Healthcare is a dynamic service industry creating jobs and stimulating growth in the EU.  Health expenditure in the EU is 8-9% of GDP.  10% of the EU workforce is employed in the healthcare sector, with 40,000 people directly employed by the companies which COCIR represents. 

This industry provides essential technical infrastructure for healthcare. The global market for the electromedical and healthcare IT equipment which COCIR represents is worth 39 billion euro.  This breaks down into 20 billion euro for radiological and electromedical equipment and 19 billion euro for healthcare IT.  Europe’s share of this market is 25%, equivalent to 9 to 10 billion euros per year. 

However, COCIR’s Age Profile shows that a considerable share of the installed medical equipment in the EU has reached an age of 10 years or older. Therefore, a sustainable investment programme is required in order to improve the situation and maintain the high level of quality in European healthcare.