Global Digital X-ray Market Assessment, By Product [Stationary Digital Radiology System, Ceiling-Mounted Systems, Floor-To-Ceiling Mounted Systems, Portable Digital Radiology System, Handheld Radiology Systems, Mobile Radiology Systems], By Technology [Di

Global Digital X-ray Market Assessment, By Product [Stationary Digital Radiology System, Ceiling-Mounted Systems, Floor-To-Ceiling Mounted Systems, Portable Digital Radiology System, Handheld Radiology Systems, Mobile Radiology Systems], By Technology [Direct Digital Radiology, Computed Digital Radiology], By Application [Cardiovascular Imaging, Chest Imaging, Dental Imaging, Digital Mammography and Other application], By End-user [Hospital, Diagnostic Centers and Others], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F

Global digital X-ray market size was valued at USD 14.73 billion in 2023, which is expected to reach USD 28.04 billion in 2031, with a CAGR of 8.38% for the forecast period between 2024 and 2031F. Growth in global digital X-ray market is driven by various factors such as rising prevalence of various lifestyle related diseases, increase in elderly population, technological advancements, use of AI, increased healthcare expenditure, government initiatives, policies, and programs. Increased public and private sector investments in digital X-ray devices, the presence of several top players, and developmental strategies like mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, and new product launches have accelerated the growth of the global digital X-ray market.

The global digital X-ray market is further undergoing robust growth due to the rise in the prevalence of the global burden of diseases and other health conditions, like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, fracture, pregnancy, pain, and many more. All these health conditions require the application of conventional and digital X-rays for early diagnosis. Digital X-ray emits 70-80 percent less radiation compared to conventional X-ray and, therefore, reduces the chances of any side effects from frequent X-ray. Other benefits like cost effectiveness, ease of transfer of images, clearer images, and better storage capacity have been the drivers in the transition from conventional to digital X-rays. Other factors, such as improvements in healthcare facilities and an increase in elderly population is further accelerating the growth of global digital X-ray market.

Technological advancement in digital X-ray devices by integrating AI in its process has accelerated the global digital X-ray market by enhancing the accuracy in diagnosing diseases and health conditions, reducing the processing time, and reducing the labour work. These advancements have encouraged public and private companies to join and invest in research and development of more efficient and effective techniques to provide quality medical treatment and improve healthcare facilities in this market. Moreover, increased healthcare expenditure, investments, policies, and programs by the government to facilitate research and development are further propelling the growth of the global digital X-ray market.

Rise in Global Burden of Diseases

The increasing prevalence of global burden of diseases is a major driving factor for the global digital X-ray market. According to an article published in Our World in Data, the increased global burden of diseases is a major public health problem. It states that, in 2017, worldwide, more than 60 percent of burden of disease results from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and 28 percent from communicable diseases, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases. Rest 10 percent includes diseases acquired from injuries. Sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, excessive tobacco, alcohol consumption, and rash/drunk driving are the leading risk factors for the rising prevalence of these diseases around the world. For treating these diseases, diagnostic imaging devices like X-ray plays a crucial role.

According to WHO, in 2016, approximately 3.6 billion diagnostic medical examinations, such as X-ray, were performed every year at global level. The number is projected to grow as the disease prevalence and healthcare accessibility to the patient is growing. As a result, with growing disease prevalence, the demand for digital X-ray tools and appliances is growing, escalating the growth of the global digital X-ray market.

Technological advancement

In the world of digital radiology, AI has proved to be an important development. AI has huge potential in medical imaging devices like digital X-ray. Enhancing accuracy, faster process, quality control of the instrumentation and decreasing workload of the healthcare professionals are the benefits of integrating AI with digital X-ray. Many medical devices manufacturing companies are launching AI-based digital X-ray to improve their product portfolio and provide better health outcomes to the patients.

For instance, on October 2023, at the World Health Summit, Siemens Healthineers and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund), announced a partnership to use AI based X-ray in diagnosing tuberculosis. The partnership has planned to combat the increased TB cases among the population. AI based chest X-ray speed up the scanning process, helps in early detection and improve accuracy and efficiency. This type of partnership is enhancing global digital X-ray market.

Government Initiatives

Digital X-ray devices improve treatment outcomes in patients through early detection and diagnosis for several health conditions. X-ray being a non-invasive, cost-efficient procedure with great efficiency to detect unexpected findings has increased its demand among the patients as well as healthcare professionals. To fulfil the growing demand, government devote billions of funds for research and development in healthcare facilities including innovation in medical diagnosis tools and appliances, such as digital X-ray and launch many initiatives, policies, and programs to help and support global digital X-ray market. For instance, under EU’s long-term EU budget, known as the multiannual financial framework (MFF), EU government devoted a budget of EUR 1.21 trillion from 2021-2024 to run ‘Next Generation EU’. In the budget, there are 7 programs. Digital Europe Programme and Horizon Europe are the programs initiated to boost digital technologies in Europe in the healthcare sector by bringing key digital technologies, integrating AI and robotics, and developing research in high-end innovation in enabling technologies like digital X-ray machines. These initiatives by the government further accelerate the growth of global digital X-ray market.

Growing Demand for Digital Dental X-ray

Digital X-ray machines have revolutionized the practice of dentistry. These devices provide images quickly and easily along with high resolution and accuracy. It allows for more accurate diagnoses and treatment plans. Digital X-rays have several advantages over conventional X-ray machines, such as reduced patient radiation exposure, an immediate preview of the images that enables dentists to conduct fast consultations, higher resolution imaging, and increased imaging accessibility via computer networks. Major players are working on digital dental X-ray to encourage digital X-ray use in dentistry. For instance, on March 2023, Pearl, which is a pioneer in dental AI solutions, announced plans to expand access of its Practice Intelligence AI solution for European customers. The Practice Intelligence AI solution is an AI-based digital X-ray that provides excellent imaging solution and uses AI for quick analysis and brings improvement in the medical industry including dentistry. Due to these advancement, global digital X-ray market is flourishing.

Growing Demand for Portable Digital X-ray

Portable digital X-ray are gaining popularity due to its benefit of treating patient who needs immediate diagnosis. It overcomes location barrier as it can be taken anywhere anytime. Patients who are bed ridden or patients who cannot visit any hospital, due to any health condition and require frequent and routine X-ray, highly need portable digital X-ray for their medical treatment. With the increased prevalence of health conditions, many big companies are launching portable X-ray to meet this requirement.

For instance, in July 2022, at European Congress of Radiology (ECR) in Vienna, Siemens Healthineers launches Mobilett Impact, which is a portable digital X-ray system. The optimal radiation dose of this system allows diagnosis and the entire imaging workflow at the patient’s bedside at an economical price. Mobilett Impact provides high quality images, undisrupted workflow, and wireless transmission of imaging data within the hospital system and other. These new launches and innovations in the portable digital X-ray further enhance robust growth of global digital X-ray market.

Future Market Scenario

Global digital X-ray market is expected to grow tremendously in the coming years, due to multiple factors such as increasing elderly population and global prevalence of health issues such as respiratory illness, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, fracture, and other orthopaedic diseases. Moreover, growth in the technological advancements, integration of AI in development of digital X-ray, increasing popularity of portable digital X-ray, governmental initiatives, policies, and programs, increased investments by public and private companies for research and development in the respective market, and collaborative ventures involving medical devices manufacturers, research institutions, and other relatable private firms have spurred innovation leading to further growth of the global digital X-ray market.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

In the digital X-ray industry, several public and private organizations are actively establishing strategic partnerships and distribution agreements to empower and strengthen each other’s resources and gain insights regarding new market and advanced technologies to expand their businesses across the globe. This further propels the global digital X-ray market expansion. These mergers and acquisitions and initiatives promote innovation, enhance expertise, and improve the product portfolio of the organizations and lead to the robust growth of the digital X-ray market. Many big players are undergoing strategic mergers and acquisitions, partnerships to improve and strengthen their product quality. As an example, in July 2023, Nikon Americas Inc., purchased the US company Avonix Imaging LLC. to strengthen its X-ray digital inspection solutions. Avonix has been a strategic X-ray CT manufacturing partner to Nikon since 2015. This strategic acquisition aims to reinforce Nikon’s position as market leader in 3D and 2D X-ray inspection.