Medical device manufacturers, including imaging companies, may be missing business opportunities in Europe's private healthcare markets.
A report from London-based HBS Consulting said the private sector is rapidly catching up in spending, and is more ready to adopt certain devices than public healthcare providers.
The private sector has been a rapid adopter of new imaging technology, especially high-tech equipment that reduces scanning time, improves image quality, and provides cost-efficiencies in patient throughput. With demand for diagnostic services growing rapidly, private institutions are investing in new technology to attract more referrals from general practioners, as well as self-pay patients who do not want to join lengthy waiting lists in the public sector.
Digital mammography is one modality that has been adopted by the private sector more rapidly than by public payors, which have been slow to be convinced that the technology represents a major advance over analog systems, the HBS report noted.
Germany has seen the emergence of sites offering whole-body MRI screening. In early 2005, whole-body screening was commercially available at five sites in Germany. The main target for the service is self-paying entities, such as private insurance companies and larger firms that cover payment as a special benefit, as well as individual patients.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
August 8, 2006
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