MUMBAI, INDIA: Satyam Computer Services Ltd and GE Healthcare announced a comprehensive agreement to support customers deploying healthcare IT solutions based on GE Centricity Enterprise software.

The companies will join forces to plan, design, and implement infrastructures for global healthcare providers of all sizes. They will also perform application integration and tailor solutions for providers, as needed.

Beginning in the 4th quarter of 2008, Satyam will be the first global systems integrator to start enrolling consultants in new GE Healthcare certification exam programs for Centricity Enterprise Software. In addition, the companies will staff a demonstration centre of the "hospital of the future" that is opening in Qatar to highlight the shared vision and advanced capabilities the two companies can bring to customers.

"It is a significant endorsement of our strategy and the capabilities of our platform to have Satyam stand by our side as a global partner," said Laurent Rotival, senior vice president of GE Healthcare Enterprise Solutions. "We're already helping customers gain tremendous value from healthcare IT solutions and this new agreement and investment by both companies will further accelerate customer adoption, ultimately leading to higher quality care."

The agreement grew from close cooperation between the companies for the benefit of customers in the Middle East and India. Consultants from GE Healthcare and Satyam helped several organizations plan, deploy, and support their healthcare IT systems. Over time, Satyam will customize and extend these systems. Hospitals and clinics will determine additional tailoring and functionality that needs to be enabled to support their care practices.

The partnership will also enable customers to engage either GE or Satyam as a first point of contact and be assured of superior software and services. In the long term, the companies intend to offer a broad range of packaged services.