Health Robotics Signs New Distribution Deal in Saudi Arabia

Headquartered in Bozen, Italy, Health Robotics is focusing on its presence in the Saudi Arabian space with a new marketing and service channel for its robotic intravenous (IV) products. The IV Station Onco, IV Soft, and IV Station products now will be marketed in partnership with Saudi Arabia-based company Hospital Automation Technology (HAT).

Health Robotics is and has been on a mission to expand globally, and this is another move towards that goal. Most recently, the company signed similar agreements for the same products with PharmaTech Medical, a United Arab Emirates company, and Dongbang Healthdyne, a South Korean company.

“We are very pleased to improve our KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia]-based marketing and technical support channels to Hospital Automation Technologies, replacing Arabian Health Care Supply Company [AHCSC],” said Gaspar DeViedma, Health Robotics’ executive vice president. “Just like we terminated non-performing channels throughout 2011, we will continue to diligently monitor channel performance worldwide, and to make necessary changes when appropriate, such as for instance when Health Robotics’ customers request upgraded service, as has been the case in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, demanding technical improvements.”

DeViedma is referring to Health Robotics’ premature termination of a five-year strategic partnership agreement with AHCSC. The company was hired to deliver Health Robotics’ products to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine.

The IV Station Onco is the company’s second-generation version of its cancer therapy compounding robot. According to DeViedma, the robot handles pre-attached lines to IV bags; has a small footprint at 15-25 percent of the size/weight of other IV robots; has faster throughput (up to 40 doses per hour instead of 20 doses per hour); has an automated tamper-evident syringe capping; and has radio-frequency identification support.

“Together with IV Station and IV Soft products and their extreme price/value advantages over the competition, we expect to replicate in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia our worldwide market success on long term basis,” DeViedma went on to say.

Health Robotics produces intravenous medication automation technology. It has sales and marketing offices in Canada.