Medical equipment distributor Arel Limited has introduced to the Jamaican market a new technology by GE Healthcare that is expected to significantly improve the quality of referrals.

GE Healthcare describes the new product, VScan, as a handheld, pocket-sized visualization tool powered by ultrasound technology that enables you to visually inspect the inside of your patient's body during a physical exam. Arel, which has been distributing medical equipment throughout Jamaica and in the Cayman Islands for 40 years, launched the product in Jamaica recently at the Terra Nova All-Suites Hotel in Kingston.

"We are proud to play a role in the continued development of the Caribbean's healthcare system by providing innovative products and introducing new technological breakthroughs," said Earle Spence, managing director of Arel.

The launch featured a demonstration by Dr Edwin Cruz, clinical applications and education leader, GE Healthcare Latin America. Doctors were also given the opportunity to perform a scan on a pregnant model. Attendees included Dr Jeffery East, Dr Jean Johnson, Dr Marcia Lawrence, Dr Donald Che, Dr Trevor Golding and Dr Onyonyor.

Arel is the authorised distributor for GE Healthcare, Cobalt Medical and Konica Minolta. Since 1972, the companyhas been offering X-ray, ultrasound, mammography, CT, MRI, PET, nuclear medicine, PACS, patient monitoring, anesthesia machines and nuclear medicine products, amongst several others.