Auckland, New Zealand – A significant step toward expanding New Zealand’s health technology footprint in Southeast Asia was marked by a signing ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, attended by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and representatives from the Franco-Vietnamese (FV) Hospital Group.
This event signifies the beginning of McCrae Hospitals’ ambitious launch, a Kiwi health technology firm, and reinforces Orion Health’s ongoing investment in the region. McCrae Hospitals is entirely New Zealand-owned and originated from Orion Health, a global health technology firm based in New Zealand, which was recently acquired by Healwell AI. Both companies were founded by Ian McCrae, and they will continue to work together closely in the future across Southeast Asia to ensure Vietnamese patients and healthcare professionals have access to the best New Zealand-made health technology.
According to McCrae Hospitals CEO Niru Rajakumar, “the partnership agreement between FV Hospital and McCrae Hospitals, which becomes the new owner of the Hospital Information Systems (HIS) technology developed in New Zealand by Orion Health, is the launchpad for the next generation of hospital systems in South-East Asia.”
The agreement builds on the strong regional presence previously established by Orion Health. These two New Zealand companies will maintain their close working relationship, with an announcement in January revealing that the existing customer, FV Hospital, will increase its HIS with a new Orion Health Patient Portal (Virtuoso). This portal is designed to improve care for more than 770,000 patients and provide support for over 1,000 clinicians.
Scheduled for launch this year, the patient portal will integrate seamlessly with FV’s current systems. It enhances the HIS by allowing patients to digitally manage their health, thereby empowering them to take greater control of their healthcare.
Dr. Jean-Marcel Guillon, CEO of FV Hospital, stated, “The Virtuoso Patient Portal will greatly improve patient care by streamlining check-in processes, reducing admission times, and allowing patients to focus on their health rather than administrative tasks. This collaboration is a milestone in our decade-long partnership. Together, we empower patients and clinicians, driving impactful healthcare changes across Viet Nam and Southeast Asia.”
Prime Minister Luxon highlighted the significance of the venture, saying, “I am hugely proud that New Zealand’s HealthTech sector has evolved into a robust industry, now valued at NZ$2.1 billion according to the recent TIN200 report. This significant Kiwi technology project brings together the leading health care organisations from both countries and reinforces New Zealand’s commitment to strong, productive relationships in Viet Nam and South-East Asia and is aligned with our collaborative approaches to improving accessibility to equitable healthcare.”
Rajakumar also noted that, “Improving both the patient and clinician experience, McCrae Hospital’s technology has built a strong reputation across South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand for its ability to provide paperless patient journeys and streamline administrative operations from pre-admission through to post-discharge for patients.”
Supporting Rajakumar and McCrae Hospitals’ customers will be Timothy Kim, Asia Sales Director based in Viet Nam and formerly of Orion Health. They will be supported by a cross-functional team in New Zealand, and a team of 35 based in Thailand, which forms the core of McCrae Hospitals’ research and development center.
“We are proud of the strong reputation McCrae Hospitals technology inherits from its legacy with Orion Health. With customers in Viet Nam, Thailand and the Philippines, I’m excited to be leading McCrae Hospitals with an ambition to build on our reputation with hospitals throughout South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand,” Rajakumar said.
He emphasized the potential for the technology to substantially improve the experiences of both patients and clinicians, leading to time savings and budget efficiencies for hospitals: “the opportunity to improve both the patient and clinician experience, saving their time and providing operator budget savings is something many hospitals are in search of.”
About Orion Health Orion Health is a global healthcare technology company that focuses on reimagining healthcare for everyone. The company is leading changes in digital health with healthcare and other health services organization to enhance the wellness of every individual with a world-leading Unified Healthcare Platform. The platform includes a Virtuoso digital front door, Amadeus digital care record, and Orchestral health intelligence platform—all supported by extensive health and social data sets, machine learning, and 30 years of innovation that specifically focus on improving global well-being. Visit the Orion Health website
