Integrated Workflows Effective in Eastern European PACS Market

The eastern European picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) market is providing substantial growth opportunities for vendors who can provide custom-made solutions and ensure smooth workflows. In spite of the lack of technology and infrastructure, as well as linguistic issues that are creating difficulties with system interface, the market is growing at an impressive double-digit rate due to large-scale investments and government initiatives.

Frost & Sullivan (Palo Alto, CA, USA), an international growth consultancy company, found that the Eastern European PACS market was worth U.S.$9.7 million in 2005 and estimates this will reach $29.3 million in 2012. "Robust PACS will drive the market into the growth stage,” noted Frost & Sullivan research analyst Ranjit Ravindranathan. "Eastern Europe is a rapidly expanding market, especially as a result of its efforts to emulate western European healthcare systems.”

The emergent eastern European PACS market is increasingly transitioning towards increased growth. Enhanced capital investment and the recognition by healthcare authorities of the benefits of having a good data management system will not only reinforce the trend of purchasing digital instead of analogue systems, but will also support overall market expansion.

Among the major obstacles that the market faces are the high costs of a fully integrated PACS system and the problems of achieving complete workflow integration. The need to standardize PACS, improve information technology (IT) capabilities and operational knowledge of technicians, combined with the presence of stringent, government-instituted regulatory norms are also creating an environment of business uncertainty.

"Customizing PACS modules and providing a smooth integrated workflow environment is essential to vendor success,” explained Mr. Ravindranathan. "Providers capable of delivering solutions that exhibit these characteristics will be able to leverage their expertise and win coveted contracts; remaining focused on product development will be critical to realizing competitive advantage.”

Specialist players already have the knowledge of how to develop niches for themselves. However, these firms will have to concentrate on building strategic alliances to increase their visibility in the industry and to access decision makers effectively, according to Frost & Sullivan.



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