BEST, The Netherlands, Jan. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire - MySolutionInfo/ -- Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) today announced that the Philips Digital Pathology Solution is available for diagnostic use in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. Pathologists are now able to leverage the connected solution for primary diagnosis of pathology cases, simplifying the slide archiving process and enhancing collaboration.

By digitizing the images pathologists normally view through a microscope, Philips' solution offers high-quality digital images that can be easily stored and accessed from virtually anywhere. Slide storage costs and the availability of secure, physical space has become a growing concern as pathologists in the Middle East have faced stringent requirements to maintain robust slide archives dating back 10-15 years. With larger labs in the region examining up to 75,000 slides a year, the possibility of moving toward a purely digital archive offers significant potential to reduce spend and streamline workflows.

Additionally, patients in the Arab region are often responsible for getting their own second opinions around disease diagnoses, requiring they personally transport slides from the lab to their next specialist or be responsible for sending them abroad. The availability of digital records can ease these logistical burdens, reducing patient travel and risk of damage to slides by allowing electronic transmission and remote, real-time collaboration between pathologists without regard to physical geography.

"Digital pathology solution aims to improve the pathologist's workflow and diagnosis, by making use of very high resolution images and facilitating enhanced collaboration," said Perry van Rijsingen, General Manager of Philips Digital Pathology Solutions. "We believe that digitization will arm pathologists with additional resources and offer patients the quality they deserve as they face the diagnostic journey."

Philips will showcase its Philips Digital Pathology Solution at Arab Health 2015 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, UAE in Sheikh Zayed Hall 2, Stand S2C10, January 26-29. For more information on Philips' presence at Arab Health, please visit the website and follow @PhilipsHealth.

For further information, please contact:
Hans Driessen, Corporate Communications
Philips
Tel: +31-6-10-610-417,
E-mail: hans.driessen@philips.com