GHP Global Health

RNS Number:1544J
Global Health Partner PLC
19 September 2006

GLOBAL HEALTH PARTNER ENTERS THE AREA OF OBESITY TREATMENT

Global Health Partner (GHP) has decided to make obesity treatment its fourth
Service Line and intends to open a number of clinics for specialist treatment of
morbid obesity in Europe over the coming years. For this purpose, GHP has
entered into a ten year development agreement with Sahlgrenska University
Hospital (SU). The objective of the project is to design a model for the optimal
treatment of obesity for this exposed patient group.

Obesity, clinically defined as a condition where an individual has a Body Mass
Index greater than or equal to 30kg/m2, has increased constantly during the last
20 years and today it is estimated that 20-30% of the European population is
obese. These individuals are exposed to a severely increased risk of contracting
illness with consequences such as increased absence from work, early retirement
and an inferior quality of life. In many cases, severe obesity results in
premature death.

Recently, data from the Swedish Obesity Study was presented including over 6,000
patients, some of whom had been monitored for 20 years. The study confirmed that
treatment of obesity, including permanent weight reduction, will not only
decrease the risk of complications, but also increase both quality of life and
life expectancy. Consequently, there is a significant need for specialist
treatment centres that offer a quality assured, full range treatment programme
for patients suffering from obesity.

For decades, SU has developed a unique knowledge of the health risks of morbid
obesity, as well as an understanding of the diagnostic and treatment methods
that give the best long term results. In 2006 a decision was taken by the
hospital to make a long term commitment to this clinical area by the
establishment of a specialised Obesity Centre, which is currently under
development.

GHP believes that this market is severely underserved and that demand is likely
to increase. Therefore we have decided to make obesity treatment our fourth
Service Line and intend to open a number of clinics for specialist treatment of
morbid obesity in Europe over the coming years. The collaboration between SU and
GHP aims to develop clinical protocols for quality assured, best practice, and
measured treatment of patients suffering from obesity. This will be used both by
SU and by GHP's future clinics. The development work will be financed by GHP and
will mainly be performed by researchers and other medical staff at SU. In
addition to securing medical best practice, special focus will be directed
towards process optimization and development of IT support. The target is for
the clinical protocols to be completed and implemented by SU and GHP as early as
spring 2007.

For further information, please contact:
Per Batelson: 00-46-70-5955-700 or 00-46-31-16-78-90
CEO, Global Health Partner

Angela Entwistle: 0207- 248-6700


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