Vatech Mexico Lends a Helping Hand
On June 27, 2019, Vatech Mexico has given an endowment to an IMSS Regional No. 2 trauma-specialized hospital, which covers the entire southern region of Mexico City and the suburban areas in the vicinity (roughly a population of 500,000 people).
This was not the first time Vatech Mexico has contributed an endowment. While initially establishing Vatech in Mexico, they had partnered with KOTRA World Champ and prepared funding to endow Hospital Juarez with a PaX-i2D and continued to donate other devices as well. It was particularly appropriate to donate to Hospital Juarez because it is an entity that provides medical services to the lower-class populace who do not have health insurance.
Thanks to the initial donation of the PaX-i2D, patients without health insurance were able to receive advanced treatment, and in return, our Vatech brand started gaining recognition throughout the general public.
Through this, Vatech Mexico employees were able to gain a higher sense of pride in their work, which ultimately improved morale. All of these positive effects from making the initial endowment has led to another recent donation of the PaX-i3D.
In order for us to learn more details about the recent event, we have interviewed the President of Vatech Mexico, Mr. Valentino Cha.
Global Marketing team: It is impressive to hear about your participation in this meaningful activity. Would you please give us a brief introduction of yourself?
Mr. Cha: In 2013, I established VATECH Mexico, as the President, and in 2017, I was promoted to overseeing Brazil and Latin America as the General Manager of our Latin America branch. My connection to the Latin market seems to have started when I was in the ITESO University MBA course, in Mexico, from 1989 to 1992. I personally began studying because with NAFTA just starting, I learned that there was a possibility for future growth within this market.
Marketing team: What kind of hospital is Mexico’s Regional No. 2 Hospital?
Mr. Cha: It is a trauma-specializing hospital that covers the entire southern region of Mexico City, with a population of over 100 million including the surrounding cities. IMSS is a public health insurance in Mexico and has a similar nature and service range to that of Korean’s National Health Insurance Corporation. IMSS is used by private-sector employees because all private companies are required to sign up for it. However, government employees, military personnel, and public corporations are excluded and are covered by ISSTE, another public health insurance plan. This is different from Korea because in Korea, public health insurance is provided to all citizens. Regional No. 2 Hospital is also called the Dr. Guillermo Fajardo Ortiz Hospital, nicknamed after Mexico’s most prestigious surgeon, who is still alive. Even though he is still alive, his name is used as a nickname for many hospitals. Dr. Guillermo Fajardo Ortiz attended our donation ceremony and his attendance made it a more meaningful event.
Marketing team: What kind of relationship do Regional No. 2 Hospital and Vatech have with one another?
Mr. Cha: At first, there were many difficulties in choosing a hospital. For our first donation, we thought it would be best to look in the IMSS Network, so we collaborated with KOTRA to look for an appropriate hospital. Most of the hospitals in the IMSS network offer standard dental services, like providing scaling and extractions, so it was hard to choose one. When I went to visit the selected hospital, I saw that the same standard of dental services was being provided, so we had to discuss how useful our donation would be. Just as we were about to choose a university hospital, we were given the recommendation to go with Regional No. 2 Hospital. Although there was no different in Regional No. 2 Hospital’s dental services, compared to the other possible choices, we decided to go with this hospital because many patients had Maxillofacial related diseases, which require 3D imaging/diagnosis.
The more I learn about the donation process and how hospitals are chosen, it makes me think that this event was started with a very meaningful purpose. Through these donations, the achievement and self-esteem of Vatech employees grows.
The most recent donation by Vatech Mexico is the PaX-i3D model, which provides 3-in-1 Pano, CT, and Cephalo images for dental imaging diagnosis. The PaX-i3D costs over 1 million Pesos and delivers clear picture quality and low X-ray doses, which benefits both patients and physicians.
For more information, please refer to the link! (http://www.vatech.com/product_3d/311)
There is a general perception that social overhead capital (SOC) activities, such as donations, are generally not easy due to the cost and difficulty of selecting targets.
Mr. Cha: It is evident that decisions need to be made based on the appropriate scope. Considering the changes in perception through socially responsible activities, the enhancement of brand awareness, and the establishment of entry barriers, I hope to see more Vatech overseas branches being active in SOC activities.
There are many people, worldwide, who are suffering from a lack of adequate dental care. How can we share the strengths of dental imaging equipment to benefit those in need? One of our missions is to innovate and develop dental products so everyone can be treated equally.
Vatech’s technology is dignified by donating equipment where it is desperately needed most.
