Medical Imaging Market in Eastern Europe Driven by Funding

These Private Financing Initiatives (PFIs) are raising investment capital, and therefore, improving the outlook for existing medical imaging modalities markets.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (Palo Alto, CA, USA), an international growth consultancy company, Eastern European Medical Imaging Modalities Markets, found that the markets earned revenues of nearly US$300 million in 2007 and estimates this to more than double by 2014 to reach $630 million.

"Healthcare financing and a burgeoning private sector are creating opportunities for the growth of the medical imaging modalities market in eastern Europe,” noted Frost & Sullivan research analyst Smruti Munshi. "Private sector growth plays a very important role in the financing of healthcare infrastructure, services and equipment.”

The public sector, which was previously burdened with issues such as the lack of transparency in revenue collection and erratic and unpredictable payments, is now moving towards a more favorable environment for private investment. Private health insurance is reducing the pressure on the public insurance system and serving as a source of financing to rebuild infrastructure in the eastern European region.

Major medical imaging modality vendors, including original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), are positive about the development of the private sector, as it is a more attractive source of revenue than the public sector. Insurance companies and individual operators are also supporting growth in the medical imaging modalities market in Eastern Europe.

"Private sector growth is contributing positively to the medical imaging market, particularly for high-end medical imaging equipment,” commented Mr. Munshi. "The private sector owns and runs several diagnostic centers for MR [magnetic resonance] and CT [computed tomography] in Eastern Europe. Being self-financed, such centers are open to vendors' recommendations of purchasing more sophisticated, high-end equipment that will enhance patient throughput and eventual return on investment.”

Increasing awareness about privatization, coupled with the associated benefits of private sector services, is causing governments to relax policies and encourage private sector investment with regard to diagnostic services and the purchase of new medical equipment in these countries.

At present, the market is dominated by old equipment, especially in modalities that are the most popular and commonly used, such as X-rays. Strict healthcare budgets and low reimbursement have resulted in little incentive to replace existing X-ray systems and purchase new ones. Moreover, upcoming imaging modalities such as CT and MRI offer high reimbursement at low costs, making the market unpredictable.

"Although countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary are becoming more stable, they still experience many challenges that will need to be overcome if market success is to be sustained,” remarked Mr. Munshi. "The healthcare systems in these countries are also state controlled, resulting in tenders being awarded to local participants as governments prefer dealing with them.”


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