July 15, 2011 — According to a new report by iData Research, the European women's health market is valued at over $917 million, and is estimated to reach $1.1 billion by 2017. This is largely due to recovery of the digital breast imaging, OB/GYN ultrasound imaging and female sterilization segments. Implementation of national breast screening programs by European health authorities is expected to counteract the negative effects of the global economic crisis, resulting in double-digit growth of the European digital mammography market by 2017.
The report states that in 2010, the OB/GYN ultrasound accounted for more than one-quarter of the total European women's health market and will continue to grow due to technological advances from GE, Siemens and Philips such as 3-D/4-D real-time imaging. These new systems allow for easier detection of fetal abnormalities and high-risk pregnancies.
In addition, the European transcervical female sterilization market is expected to grow at double-digit rates through 2017. France represented the majority of this market, followed by Spain due to their positive reimbursement policies. Transcervical devices were not reimbursed or only partially reimbursed in many other European countries, which is the greatest barrier to movement in this market. Tremendous growth is expected as more countries approve this device for reimbursement such as Germany, which currently offers no reimbursement.
For more information: www.idataresearch.net