Philips launches home healthcare business in India; to introduce innovative sleep therapy and respiratory solutions

* Philips pioneers entry into the fast-growing field of obstructive sleep apnea management and home respiratory care in India
* Introduction of the Philips Respironics product portfolio to significantly drive growth for Philips Healthcare in India both in the hospital and in the home

Goa, India – Philips Electronics India Ltd, today announced its entry into the fast-growing Indian home healthcare market by introducing the Philips Respironics product categories in obstructive sleep apnea management and home respiratory care to its existing healthcare product portfolio in India. Philips’ ’in-hospital’ position was also strengthened through the introduction of Respironics’ strong non-invasive ventilation and respiratory monitoring products for hospitals and clinics.

“The Philips Respironics product portfolio will significantly drive our growth in healthcare both in the hospital and in the home”, said Mr. Murali Sivaraman, CEO, Philips Electronics India Ltd. “A core part of Philips’ healthcare strategy is to take a leadership position in the high-growth sector of home healthcare. Our heritage in understanding how consumers think is combined with our deep clinical knowledge, putting us in a unique position to help address the modern day challenges of healthcare in groundbreaking ways. Today, Philips is present throughout the cycle of care; we are bridging the hospital and home”.

India is the first country where the Philips Respironics portfolio has been formally launched post the global acquisition of Respironics in 2008, underlining the company’s focus to build market leadership positions in high-growth emerging markets like India and China.The home healthcare market in India is estimated to grow at an annual rate of 15% in the coming years. Philips plans to garner a market share of 40% in this largely untapped market by 2013.

Philips Respironics is a global leader in the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a condition characterized by the repeated cessation of breathing during sleep. The occurrence of OSA is relatively high in certain parts of the population across Asia, partly fuelled by a sedentary lifestyle. It is estimated that in India, for example, close to 4% of the adult population suffer from moderate to severe OSA, with only a fraction being diagnosed.

For these reasons, it is important to properly identify and successfully treat patients with OSA and one of the primary objectives of Philips is to create awareness about this disease not only amidst the patient/ consumer but also within the general practitioner (GP) fraternity.

Philips Respironics also holds a leading position in noninvasive ventilation and home oxygen technologies to serve the needs of respiratory impaired patients in the home; this range is also being introduced into the Indian market.

Growth in the USD 5 billion plus global respiratory markets is expected to be at least 10% per annum going forward and the market for global sleep apnea management in particular is expected to show a mid-teen percentage growth rate annually in the coming years, as rising awareness of this potentially life-threatening condition leads to increasing diagnosis and treatment of OSA. In 2008 the global sleep market was approximately USD 2 Billion of which Philips Respironics was estimated to have 40% share.

The entire range of Philips Respironics solutions will first be rolled out in identified Indian metros and tier II cities with a host of programs planned including road-shows, online promotions, medical institute curriculum participation, and patient to patient interaction.

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified Health and Well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 121,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 26 billion in 2008, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

About Philips Electronics India Limited

Philips Electronics India Limited, a subsidiary of the Netherlands-based Royal Philips Electronics, is a leader in Consumer Lifestyle, Healthcare and Lighting Systems. Philips has an unmatched range of internationally acclaimed products backed by superior design and technology and an excellent distribution and after-sales service network. Philips has been operating in India for over 75 years and employs over 4,500 employees around the country.

Philips in India is part of Royal Philips Electronics. As one of the nation’s most well-known and well-loved brands, Philips is a part of practically every Indian’s life. Philips products find a use in virtually every aspect of daily life - at home, at work and on the move. Today, Philips stands as a source of easy to use, trendy and innovative products that enhance the quality of consumers’ professional and personal lives.