Leveraging proven world-class technology of international diagnostic imaging solutions to enhance hospital patient experience and level of care.

Life Healthcare, one of South Africa’s largest healthcare providers has acquired the non-clinical imaging operations of East Coast Radiology, a radiology practice operating at four of Life Healthcare’s Eastern Cape hospitals, in its efforts to grow and diversify its portfolio across its southern African operations.

The purchase is part of the Group’s broader South African imaging and diagnostics strategy aimed at leveraging the experience of its international imaging business, Alliance Medical Group (AMG) to increase access and affordability of imaging for South Africans.  AMG is wholly owned by Life Healthcare and is the United Kingdom’s and western Europe’s leading independent provider of complex diagnostic imaging, integrated molecular imaging services, and are also manufacturers of radiopharmaceuticals.

“We are excited by this opportunity which sees us progress towards an integrated healthcare model and further diversifies our healthcare business in southern Africa”, says Adam Pyle, Life Healthcare’s South African Chief Executive Officer.

Life Healthcare will integrate the non-clinical imaging operations of East Coast Radiology’s six sites in the Eastern Cape into its business operations, four of which are based within its hospitals and an additional two being out-patient based.

East Coast Radiology has a proven track record of providing patients with high-quality radiology services in the Border Kei and Eastern Cape regions. Dr Anith Chacko, spokesperson and partner of the East Coast Radiology Group, said: “We welcome this exciting opportunity to partner with a healthcare group of Life Healthcare’s stature. We believe that their international expertise will add enormous value to our patients, employees and doctors. Imaging and diagnostics are being used earlier and more extensively in the diagnostic pathway, including in a number of disease screening programmes. At the same time, interventional radiology offers extremely precise and minimally invasive surgery. In healthcare, we know that accessing diagnostics early allows for earlier treatment, which translates to better treatment and clinical outcomes. It improves the health of the population and also contributes to decreasing the cost of care overall”, explained Dr Chacko.

Pyle added that this acquisition is the first of a number of acquisitions which are in the pipeline, contributing towards Life Healthcare’s diversification strategy. He added: “We believe that including imaging and diagnostics within our business operations aligns well with our core operating model and facilitates a mutually beneficial basis for us to partner with willing radiologists who wish to join us on this journey. In time, we hope that collaborative efforts will ultimately assist government in expanding access to quality imaging services for all South Africans”.

The transaction sees all permanent employees within the non-clinical imaging operations of East Coast Radiology being transferred to Life Healthcare and no interruptions to patient care is expected. Planning around the integration of the non-clinical imaging operations of East Coast Radiology into the Life Healthcare operations commenced in November 2021 and integration will be completed in Quarter 1 of 2022.