Picture perfect: PACS and VNA market up-close

The Indian healthcare industry is experiencing exciting patient care transformation possibilities. PACS and VNA are reshaping the medical imaging landscape by transcending time and distance barriers.

- SUJAN BHATTACHARYAA

Over the past decade, the Indian healthcare industry has made rapid progress and yet falls behind many countries in providing its citizens with equitable medical care and services. The country’s sustained focus on improving healthcare quality through digital transformation and embracing advanced technologies has yielded impressive results. It could overcome challenges galore, including inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of trained human resources, and scanty geographic spread.

The Indian healthcare industry has adopted the revolutionary technology of PACS Archiving and Communications System), and VNA Vendor Neutral Archive) developed to manage medical images generated through various diagnostic procedures. These technologies allow patients not to carry endless reports or records such as Xrays, radiotherapy, CT, MRI, PET/CT, angiography, endoscopy, ophthalmology, cardiology, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, and so on.

Health professionals can access and view patient-related information in the form of electronically stored images on various screens with ease. They can compare fresh images with older ones and share imaging investigations with peers and colleagues over sophisticated communications systems transcending geographic boundaries.

The technology puts an end to two critical aspects of patient safety going wrong. It makes the chances of losing, misplacing, or spoiling images, as in transit or over time, and delaying the treatment almost nil.

THE BIG PICTURE

The Indian PACS and VNA market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.6 percent to reach 217.6 million by 2025 from an estimated 112.5 million in 2019.

The primary factors driving the growth of this market are increasing awareness and demand for quality healthcare, adoption of medical imaging equipment, health IT, EMR and EHR Electronic Health Record), and growing volumes of geriatric imaging.