Western Europe Teleradiology Market

Western Europe Teleradiology Market: Snapshot

Of late, the Western Europe market for teleradiology has been experiencing a substantial surge, thanks to the constant evolution of information and communication technologies in this region. Going forward, the shortage of expert radiologists across Europe is likely to fuel the demand for teleradiology solutions in the near future, reflecting greatly on this market. In 2014, the opportunity in the Western Europe teleradiology market was US$305.8 mn. Expanding at a CAGR of 18.50% during the period from 2015 to 2023, it is likely to reach US$1443.7 mn by 2023 end. The cost efficiency of teleradiology solutions, emergency coverage, and the rising number of imaging procedures are projected to boost this market over the next few years. However, the complex regulations, high initial investment, and language barrier are expected to limit the growth of this regional market in the years to come.

Demand for X-ray to Remain Strong

Majorly, the Western Europe teleradiology market is analyzed on the basis of the modality into magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray, computed tomography, ultrasound, and nuclear imaging. Among these, the demand for X-ray has been relatively higher and this trend is anticipated to remain so over the forthcoming years, thanks to rising number of X-ray procedures and the need for expert radiologist advice due to complexity of images.

Among others, ultrasound teleradiology has been reporting a high adoption rate, thanks to the advent of 3D and 4D ultrasound platforms, improved image quality, and the absence of ionizing radiation. CT teleradiology, on the other hand, is expected to surface as a highly lucrative segment over the forecast period, owing to favorable reimbursement policies and its ability to easily visualize complex body parts, such as lungs, brain, and cardiac abnormalities.

U.K. to Retain Dominance

The Western Europe market for teleradiology is spread across the U.K., the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Italy, and the Rest of Western Europe. The U.K. and Germany together accounted for the largest share of the market. In 2014, the U.K. led the teleradiology market in Western Europe and this scenario is anticipated to remain so in the years to come. The advancements in digital image processing technology, increasing implementation of picture archiving communication systems (PACS), and the presence of a large pool of well-established market players, together with a number of domestic service providers, are the key factors behind the growth of the U.K. market for teleradiology. Germany stood second in 2014 and is projected to retain its position over the forthcoming years. The dearth of expert radiologists and the rising number of government initiatives are likely to support the teleradiology market in this country.

Agfa-Gevaert N.V., ONRAD Inc., Telemedicine Clinic, Cybernet Medical Corp., Sectra AB, and Global Diagnostics Ltd. are some of the key vendors of teleradiology solutions in the Western Europe. The market demonstrates a fragmented and highly competitive business landscape. The leading companies are expected to involve into strategic partnerships and mergers and acquisitions over the next few years.

COVID-19 Pandemic to Fuel Growth Prospects across the Teleradiology Market

The rapid shift of the healthcare sector toward a value-based model will serve as a prominent growth-generating factor for the global teleradiology market across the assessment period of 2015-2023. The varied advantages offered by teleradiology such as affordability and emergency coverage will bring good growth opportunities during the forecast period of 2015-2023.

• Teleradiology is the practice of interpreting medical images. These images can be analyzed by a radiologist who is not present at the site of image-generation. The growing utilization of teleradiology services by emergency care centers, hospitals, telemedicine companies, and others will serve as significant growth accelerators for the teleradiology market.
• The shortage of skilled radiologists across many countries and regions around the world will serve as a vital growth factor for the teleradiology market. Lacking in-house facilities to study a large number of diagnostic images will bring phenomenal growth opportunities between 2015 and 2023. The presence of radiologists in lower numbers in Latin America, Asia, and Africa will bring good growth opportunities.
• The treatment and management of fueling chronic diseases numbers around the world will invite profitable growth opportunities for the teleradiology market. The growing number of chronic diseases has urged many countries to control it. These factors bode well for the growth of the teleradiology market. The increasing prevalence of cancer around the world has escalated the influence of imaging services, thud generating extensive growth prospects.
• The novel coronavirus pandemic has affected the growth of almost all businesses and sectors. The teleradiology market has been minimally affected by the pandemic. On the flip side, the demand for teleradiology has increased considerably during the outbreak. The remote testing mechanism for COVID patients to avoid disease transmission has increased extensively. This factor will have a great influence on the growth of the teleradiology market.