The Eastern Europe diagnostic imaging devices market is experiencing a significant resurgence as countries across the region accelerate investments in imaging infrastructure and digital health workflows. With the market expected to grow from approximately USD 2.6 billion in 2025 to around USD 3.8 billion by 2033, implying a CAGR of roughly 5.2% as referenced by DataCube Research, there is a clear momentum repositioning the diagnostic imaging devices ecosystem in countries such as Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania and Russia. This upturn is underpinned by a wave of healthcare modernization programmes, many supported or co-funded by the European Commission’s structural-fund initiatives and national hospital upgrade schemes. Within this setting, demand for higher-slice CT systems, modern 3 T MRI platforms and digital ultrasound networks is rising, while legacy X-ray and older imaging fleets are increasingly being phased out amid tight fiscal cycles.
In a region marked by diverse economic development and regulatory environments, the diagnostic imaging devices industry is adapting to new dynamics: vendors are required to offer not only device hardware but integrated service models that include installation, training, remote maintenance and software upgrades tailored for local markets. This evolution reflects the broader transition of the diagnostic imaging devices sector in Eastern Europe, from low-cost replacement to strategic investment in advanced modalities and imaging workflows that deliver clinical value, throughput gains and connectivity. As private diagnostic chains proliferate and public hospital systems commit to upgrade cycles, the imaging-device landscape is set for sustained growth through 2033.
The outlook for the Eastern Europe diagnostic imaging devices market paints a picture of both robust potential and structural complexity. The impetus comes from governments allocating EU-aid and national funds to upgrade hospital imaging equipment and from growing private imaging service chains seeking to deploy mid-field MRI, CT and ultrasound systems that strike a balance between cost and throughput.
However, Eastern Europe is not without its challenges. Geopolitical tensions, especially those affecting neighbouring regions, can influence procurement lead times, capital availability and donor-funding programmes. Supply-chain volatility and heightened logistic costs have also impacted imaging-device sourcing and deployment. Nonetheless, the region’s favourable demographics for imaging growth, expanding diagnostic volumes, increasing screening efforts and rising adoption of digital radiology platforms, provide a solid foundation for growth. For device manufacturers and service providers navigating this space, success will depend on localised market strategies, durable service networks and alignment with national imaging-modernisation mandates.
Driving the market: public-funded infrastructure upgrades and private diagnostic expansion
One of the strongest drivers of market growth in Eastern Europe is the influx of structural and recovery funds from the European Union, channelled into hospital modernisation programmes and diagnostic imaging capacity upgrades. These funds enable hospitals and regional health authorities to replace outdated imaging fleets and invest in higher performance CT and MRI systems. Alongside public investment, the private sector, particularly independent diagnostic imaging chains, is expanding in many Eastern European countries, creating demand for contemporary imaging-device systems capable of delivering high throughput and enabling value-based radiology. Private chains are often more agile, able to procure faster and deploy advanced modalities in ambulatory diagnostic centres, thereby contributing to growth in the diagnostic imaging devices sector.
Restraints: political uncertainty and weak service infrastructure hamper adoption pace
Despite favourable factors, the market faces several soft-spots. Political risk and budget unpredictability across some Eastern European countries hamper long-term procurement planning and may delay imaging-device upgrades. In addition, many markets suffer from under-developed local servicing and maintenance networks for complex modalities such as PET/CT or high-field MRI; this increases the downtime risk, raises total cost of ownership, and can deter hospitals from purchasing premium imaging equipment. Also, varying reimbursement frameworks across countries and inconsistent procurement cycles can reduce equipment utilisation, impacting ROI for buyers and thereby slowing the upgrade pace in the diagnostic imaging devices ecosystem.
Trend: focus on mid-field MRI and CT upgrades plus refurbished systems adoption
In Eastern Europe the upgrade cycle for imaging hardware is firmly underway. There is notable traction in mid-field MRI (e.g., 1.5 T and low-field 3 T) and multi-slice CT systems where hospitals seek meaningful improvements in image quality and throughput without the price tag of ultra-high-end devices. Further, owing to constrained budgets in certain countries, there is rising interest in certified refurbished imaging systems, which offer acceptable performance at lower cost, thus broadening adoption of advanced modalities where full-price new systems may be cost-prohibitive.
Opportunity: build shared imaging hubs and create tailored equipment-service offerings for growth markets
For device manufacturers and service providers, a clear opportunity in Eastern Europe lies in designing imaging-device portfolios and service models tailored to local realities: affordable mid-tier modalities, extended warranty and service-level-agreements, and group-purchasing arrangements or imaging-hub models that aggregate demand across smaller hospitals or regions. Another strategic opening is the creation of regional imaging-service hubs, shared imaging centres equipped with CT and MRI that serve multiple hospitals or regions, thus achieving utilisation economies and lowering cost per scan. Manufacturers aligning with these models can enhance penetration in the diagnostic imaging devices market by offering flexible financing, leasing options and service packages tuned to Eastern European market needs.
In Russia the diagnostic imaging devices market is witnessing a dual dynamic of state-driven hospital imaging upgrades and growing private imaging centre chains. The public sector is rolling out programmes to replace older equipment, while private diagnostic providers are deploying CT and MRI systems in urban settings. Supply-chain and import-risk factors remain significant due to geopolitical issues and sanctions, which can impact equipment availability and servicing frameworks.
Poland stands out as one of the stronger Eastern European markets for diagnostic imaging devices. With robust public-health capital expenditure and sizeable private-sector diagnostic networks, Poland is actively replacing ageing X-ray and CT fleets and expanding MRI capacity. Vendor growth is augmented by national screening programmes and alignment with EU structural-fund investments in imaging infrastructure.
The competitive realm for diagnostic imaging devices in Eastern Europe encompasses global OEMs and regional players adapting to the unique market dynamics of the region. For instance, Siemens Healthineers has made specific investments in the region, offering certified refurbished systems and service models suited for emerging markets. Another example: Philips launched AI-assisted PET/CT scanners in Poland and the Czech Republic in February 2025, integrating oncology-imaging workflows across Eastern European hospitals. Device manufacturers are increasingly adopting strategies such as localised service hubs, flexible financing and refurbished equipment offerings to overcome budget constraints and infrastructure limitations. By aligning product portfolios with mid-tier and "value-optimized" imaging systems and bundling service contracts, vendors have an advantage in capturing growth in the region diagnostic imaging devices market.
In summary, the Eastern Europe diagnostic imaging devices sector presents a nuanced but promising growth environment: infrastructure modernisation, rising private diagnostic capacity and regional upgrade cycles are all positive signals. Manufacturers and service providers that tailor their approaches, by combining cost-effective new systems, certified refurbishment, service-oriented models and strategic pricing, are best positioned to succeed in this evolving ecosystem through 2033.