Diabetes cases in adults are predicted to more than double globally from 143 million in 1997 to 300 million by 2025 (1), and without action an estimated 388 million people will die from chronic diseases in the next 10 years (2). Globally, demand for care is growing faster than the number of healthcare practitioners, resulting in the need for fewer care professionals to handle more patients, in less time and at a lower cost.

The agreement between Philips and Achmea Health will seek to address this challenge by developing technology solutions that remotely monitor health and provide guidance and motivation to patients in the home to enable them to better manage their own health, ultimately reducing the need for intervention by healthcare professionals. The initiative will seek input from all stakeholders involved in chronic patient care, including healthcare professionals, informal carers and patients.

"As the largest healthcare insurer in the Netherlands, the insights of patients and healthcare professionals captured by Achmea Health are an extremely important tool for us in our efforts to develop solutions that will genuinely meet people's needs," commented Walter van Kuijen, general manager Home Monitoring, Philips Healthcare. "For more than 100 years Philips has been a trusted brand in both hospitals and homes. Due to this unique combination of expertise we are well positioned to develop home healthcare solutions that are valued by clinician and patient alike."

"We want to ensure that people with chronic diseases are firmly in the driving seat when it comes to managing their own health. This will not only benefit patients: by reducing the number of hospital stays and shortening those that do take place, the burden on the healthcare system can also be reduced. In the long-term we believe that this approach will enable us to reduce the costs of health insurance for our customers," said Roelof Konterman, chairman of the Board of Management at Achmea Health.

Previously, Philips and Achmea Health worked together on the 'HartMotief' study, which examined the possibilities for increasing self-management among heart failure patients. Following successful results, the Philips Motiva homecare system was introduced to the Dutch market, and the system is now fully integrated into treatment programs at nine hospitals in the country.

The agreement with Achmea Health is Philips' latest development in home healthcare in Europe. The company has been and continues to be involved in several home healthcare research projects in Europe, including:

• TENS-HMS study (2005) - The largest telecare study conducted to-date, conducted in conjunction with leading cardiologists from the UK, Netherlands and Germany
• HartMotief study (2006) - Evaluation of Telehealth in the Netherlands, conducted with Achmea Health

Related news articles:

• Philips Healthcare's Profile

About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified Health and Well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs more than 118,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 26 billion in 2008, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

1. World Health Organization, "50 facts: Global health situation and trends 1955-2025", WHO online, World health report 1998 press kit
2. World Health Organization, "Solving the chronic disease problem", WHO online, 2005