A Canberra medical firm will make its first foray into China after it signed a five year agreement with the Zhejiang Medical and Health Group.
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Aspen Medical signed a deal to assist the Chinese group to expand its services in Zhejiang Province, in east China.
The province, which borders the East China Sea, has a population of 55 million residents.
The state-owned ZMH group was founded last year and runs hospitals, rehabilitation centres, community healthcare centres, pharmaceutical distribution, health tourism, and health-themed hotels.
In 2017, ZMH is expected to post $240 million (AUD) in revenue, and almost $8 million in profit.
In the coming years, ZMH Group intends to focus on the rehabilitation sector, with plans to build or merge a number rehabilitation centres to reach a total of 3000 to 4000 beds.
It plans to import ideas, theories, technology, equipment, management, and rehabilitation standards from countries like Australia, Japan, and America.
Aspen Medical said it would collaborate with ZMH to enhance rehabilitation capability and aged care services in hospitals and community clinics to ensure a quality of service.
The company will also help train medical and nursing personnel.
ZMH general manager Dongquan Zhang said it was the first time the Chinese company had formed an international alliance.
"[We] are expecting strong support from Aspen Medical in terms of innovative medical solutions to assist in establishing long-term benefits for the province," Mr Zhang said.
Aspen Medical co-executive chairman Glenn Keys, AO, said the Canberra company was "excited and honoured" by the collaboration.
Mr Keys said Aspen Medical would draw the company's experience working in the healthcare systems in Australia, Britain and elsewhere around the world to help ZMH establish a benchmark for healthcare quality and service in the province.
"ZMH is seeking to improve the way healthcare is managed through a clearly defined and supported process," Mr Keys said.
"Through this method, they wish to establish a broad triage process from pre-primary care, primary care, secondary care and tertiary care so that each tier of healthcare delivery is delivered in the most efficient manner."
