In a new report, Frost & Sullivan examined general x-ray, MRI, CT, ultrasound, molecular imaging, mammography, and PACS segments across Russia, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Romania. The company found that rising disease incidence and growing awareness about health issues will boost demand for medical imaging services in these countries, especially since the installed base is insufficient, the firm said.

The availability of European Union (EU) funds and governmental financial support, as well as the increasing importance of private healthcare, are set to help boost the medical imaging market in this part of the world, according to Frost & Sullivan. Membership in the EU has given countries like the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania access to funding sources planned in the EU budget for 2007 to 2013.

And in Russia, the country's 2020 Healthcare Development Program and National Project Health are focusing not only on bringing advanced technologies to the country and equipping healthcare facilities with high-end devices, but also on purchasing mid-range and low-end devices for regional hospitals. The total budgets for 2010 to 2012 allocated in these programs are approximately 12.9 billion euros ($16 billion), Frost & Sullivan said.

Report: PACS market is slow in Eastern Europe, February 7, 2012

Cardiac IT market looks set for growth, September 14, 2011

European e-health market to see accelerated growth, July 19, 2011

European women's imaging market to hit $1.6B in 2016, January 11, 2011

European PACS market could double, August 25, 2010