OREANDA-NEWS. April 28, 2011. IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is partnering with Singapore-based Q & M Dental Group to help widen access to high-quality dental care, support the transfer of management and clinical best practices, and create employment opportunities for dental workers in China.

IFC's USD 15 million financing comprises a USD 5 million convertible loan and a USD 10 million senior loan to Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited.  It will be used to establish a network of reputable dental clinics and laboratories in China.  Once Q & M achieves its objectives of transferring technology, operational practices, and skills in these cities, it will work with established local Chinese partners to expand its services beyond the main urban areas to frontier markets.  

"Our partnership with IFC, given its broad experience in investing in private sector health care and high environmental and social standards, will strengthen Q & M's expansion in China and help us deliver international standards of dental care in markets with growing demand," said Dr. Ng Chin Siau, Chief Executive Officer of Q & M Dental Group.

Sйrgio Pimenta, IFC Director for Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Services in Asia, said, "IFC looks forward to sharing industry knowledge with Q & M and supporting its expansion strategy in China, especially into the frontier regions in the longer term.  Partnering with Q & M also provides a positive signal to investors about the attractiveness and viability of the private health care sector in China."

The proposed IFC investment in Q & M Dental Group is closely aligned with the Chinese government's and IFC's objective of raising health-care standards and improving medical access.  This can have a significant positive impact on increasing access of quality health-care services, creating employment opportunities, and transferring technical know-how to Chinese medical professional staff.