AGFA HealthCare had pleasure in joining key stakeholders from across the Estonian healthcare ecosystem to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Foundation of Estonian PACS (Pildipank).

This milestone event brought together healthcare leaders, technology partners and clinical experts to reflect on two decades of innovation in medical imaging and to explore the future of connected, data-driven care. To mark the occasion, AGFA HealthCare presented Pildipank with a commemorative trophy in celebration of its 20th anniversary.

Willy Rose, Head of Marketing Europe at AGFA HealthCare, attended and presented at the seminar, highlighting the long-standing partnership between AGFA HealthCare and Pildipank, as well as the continued evolution of Estonia’s national imaging infrastructure. Charlotte Hellstern Hauerslev, Nordics Service Manager at AGFA HealthCare, and Tim Van de Vliet, Head of Services for Northern Europe.

Two Decades of National Imaging Excellence

Established in 2006 by Tartu University Hospital and North Estonia Medical Centre in Tallinn, Pildipank has grown into a cornerstone of Estonia’s digital healthcare landscape. The shared platform enables seamless exchange, archiving and access to medical images across the country, supporting all healthcare institutions within a unified environment.

Today, Pildipank processes approximately 2.5 million imaging studies annually, with volumes continuing to rise by around 10% each year. This sustained growth underscores the critical importance of scalable, interoperable imaging solutions that can support increasing demand while maintaining clinical efficiency.

From the outset, AGFA HealthCare’s PACS technology formed the backbone of this national system, enabling connectivity across diverse healthcare settings. Its ability to integrate third-party systems, including radiology information systems, vendor-neutral archives and advanced visualization tools, helped lay the foundation for a truly collaborative imaging network.

Transition to Enterprise Imaging

In recent years, the partnership has entered a new phase with Pildipank’s transition to AGFA HealthCare’s Enterprise Imaging platform, alongside a multi-year extension agreement. This move reflects Estonia’s ambition to further modernize its healthcare IT ecosystem and expand imaging beyond radiology into a broader clinical context.

The Enterprise Imaging solution provides:

• Advanced imaging workflows and reporting tools
• XERO Universal Viewer and Xtend capabilities, enabling access to multimodal data such as ECGs, dermatology images and spirometry results
• Enhanced collaboration tools for clinicians across specialties and locations
• Business Intelligence analytics for improved clinical and operational decision-making
• Dose monitoring and quality management tools, supporting national patient safety initiatives
• AI-powered diagnostics via Gleamer partnership, supporting faster and more confident clinical decision-making.

These capabilities are helping to reduce IT complexity while expanding access to imaging data across care teams, ultimately supporting more holistic and informed care delivery.

Strengthening Collaboration Across Specialties

A key development highlighted during the partnership has been the expansion of imaging access beyond radiology. Through advanced viewing technologies, Pildipank now supports collaboration in cardiology, pulmonology, dermatology and other disciplines, demonstrating the value of Enterprise Imaging as a platform for multidisciplinary care.

The centralized architecture also enables strategic initiatives such as the development of a national patient dose registry, further reinforcing Estonia’s leadership in digital health and patient safety.

Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter

At the anniversary seminar, Willy Rose reflected on AGFA HealthCare’s role in supporting Estonia’s imaging journey and outlined future opportunities for innovation.

“Over the past 20 years, Estonia has demonstrated what is possible when healthcare providers and technology partners work together with a shared vision,” said Rose. “We are proud to have contributed to the success of Pildipank and look forward to continuing this journey, helping expand access to imaging, enable new clinical pathways and support better outcomes for patients.”

Charlotte Hellstern Hauerslev added:

“Our collaboration with Pildipank reflects the strength of long-term partnerships rooted in trust, expertise and shared objectives. From a service perspective, we see firsthand how reliable, scalable solutions and close cooperation with clinical teams can drive both efficiency and better delivery of patient care across the region.”

A Model for Digital Healthcare

Estonia is widely recognized as a leader in digital health, and Pildipank stands as one of its flagship initiatives. The collaboration between healthcare providers and technology partners like AGFA HealthCare has enabled the country to build a highly integrated, efficient and future ready imaging ecosystem.

As Pildipank marks its 20th anniversary, the focus is not only on past achievements but also on the opportunities ahead. With continued innovation and partnership, Estonia is well positioned to remain at the forefront of digital imaging and to serve as a model for healthcare systems worldwide.