Siemens announced at the annual Clinton Global Initiative Summit that it would commit US$10 million in medical diagnostic equipment, water treatment equipment, and financial support to rural communities in China as part of the company's new affiliation with CGI.

The company says it is working closely with the Chinese Ministry of Health to facilitate the delivery of CT scanners, X-ray equipment and ultrasound machines, as well as vital water purification systems, to medical clinics throughout a rural community in China.

Klaus Kleinfeld, CEO of Siemens AG, says, "As one of the world's largest infrastructure companies, Siemens recognized that we could make a significant and immediate difference by addressing the rapid proliferation of respiratory disease currently plaguing many of the mining towns throughout China. Soon, people will have access to diagnostic equipment that will detect diseases earlier and clean water technologies that can decrease the spread of life-threatening human contaminants. Siemens is proud to sign on to The Clinton Global Initiative which shares our company's determination to make a sustainable, accountable and measurable difference."

The five-year commitment of medical diagnostic technologies and water purification systems will begin in early 2007 with the delivery and installation of equipment into clinics. Siemens will oversee the equipment set-up and train local healthcare providers to maintain and service machines.

Siemens also will supply specialized, reverse osmosis water purification equipment used to make high purity water from potable tap water for laboratory and dialysis applications in the clinics.

"Siemens spends more than US$900 million on medical research and development and we have had a presence in China for more than 100 years so we are equipped and ready to make a difference," said Dr. Erich Reinhardt, president and CEO of Siemens Medical. "Our success, however, will not be the delivery of equipment but a measurable improvement in positive patient outcomes for those suffering from respiratory disease, diseases of the GI tract and trauma. If we see those improvements, then we will have achieved our objective."

Siemens will measure pre- and post-baseline health outcomes and will provide updates on its Web site as well as the CGI Web site.