ST John of God Hospital in Subiaco has been selected as an official Surgical Observation Centre by orthopaedic equipment and training company, Arthrex. Twenty-four doctors from South-East Asia and neighbouring regions will visit SJOGHS in 2006 to experience practical training and education in orthopaedic surgery, with 15 from India and Malaysia already visiting the hospital.Live operations from SJOGHS will be broadcast to the Asia-Pacific regions, allowing doctors in remote areas to practise techniques and procedures in laboratories.The fourth of its type in the world, the Arthrex centre will be the first in Australia and will provide $600,000 worth of surgical equipment and instruments to the hospital.SJOGHS currently has 17 operating theatres with redevelopment under way for an additional five theatres, due to open in March 2006.A hospital spokesperson said the new centre was expected to become a focal point for orthopaedic surgeons across the Asia and Oceania regions wishing to train in arthroscopy and minimally invasive sports medicine.The Australian distributor for Arthrex, Device Technologies Australia, has also supported the project, and will be promoting the centre for the education of Australian and New Zealand orthopaedic surgeons and registrars.