According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, sustained economic growth since 2003 in Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC) has enabled massive increases in health care expenditures with an astounding $500 billion spent in 2009 alone. One effect has been improved access to diagnostic imaging scanners. Findings from MRG's newest series of global diagnostic imaging reports reveal that the BRIC economies will fuel much of the growth occurring in the global market for diagnostic imaging systems throughout the recession and beyond.
The BRIC nations have not been as affected by the economic downturn. As a result, the BRIC governments are still concentrating on longer-term initiatives to improve their health care infrastructure. For example, in 2006, the Russian National Health Program was implemented; one of the central priorities of the program is to equip hospitals with up-to-date medical equipment, and since the launch of the initiative, over $9 billion has been earmarked for spending. Through the program, many Russian facilities have been able to upgrade existing systems and replace obsolete imaging technology. It has also enabled hospitals to purchase advanced systems, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners.