May 5, 2009
Fresenius Medical Care opens its first dialysis clinic in Sweden
Fresenius Medical Care, the world's leading provider of products and services for dialysis patients, opened its first Swedish dialysis clinic in Trelleborg. Fresenius Medical Care was selected as the clinic operator by the regional government in Skåne (southern Sweden) during a tender.
"Offering patients the best possible treatment demands the highest quality and efficiency," said Dr. Emanuele Gatti, Chief Executive Officer of Fresenius Medical Care for the regions Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. "We are very pleased that our portfolio convinced the tender committee. Now we cannot only offer innovative technologies but also with our unique treatment concepts our entire dialysis expertise."
The new dialysis clinic was renovated and equipped according to the latest scientific and technical standards in about five months at a cost of around 1.4 million Euro. The approximately 700-square-meter clinic is near the public hospital and can care for up to 40 dialysis patients at its 13 stations. The team – one nephrologist and care personnel – will initially treat about 30 patients.
Fresenius Medical Care plans on opening additional dialysis clinics in Sweden in the mid-term. The Company founded a local subsidiary, Nephrocare Sverige AB, which is based in Sollentuna near Stockholm.
By the end of 2008, around 2.3 million patients received treatment for end stage renal disease around the world. The kidneys of these patients are unable to filter metabolic toxins and excess water from the blood for excretion through the urine. More than 1.7 million patients rely on regular, life-saving dialysis treatment – either at a dialysis clinic or at home – to prevent these toxins from accumulating in the blood and damaging other organs. Sweden currently has about 3,800 dialysis patients.
Fresenius Medical Care will offer patients in Trelleborg hemodialysis, which accounts for about 89 percent of all dialysis therapies worldwide. In hemodialysis, blood is filtered outside the patient's body using an artificial kidney (dialyzer). The patient's circulation is monitored and controlled by a dialysis machine.
Fresenius Medical Care is the world's largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because of chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects more than 1,770,000 individuals worldwide. Through its network of 2,448 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatment to 187,476 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the world's leading provider of dialysis products such as hemodialysis machines, dialyzers and related disposable products. Fresenius Medical Care is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FME, FME3) and the New York Stock Exchange (FMS, FMS/P).
For more information about Fresenius Medical Care visit the Company's website at www.fmc-ag.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, including changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory reforms, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release