Agfa acquires French HIS provider

Strengthening its position in the European healthcare IT marketplace, Agfa Healthcare this week inked a $51.5 million contract to acquire HIS (hospital information system) provider Symphonie On Line of Bordeaux, France.

According to Agfa, Symphonie On Line develops an administrative application software which is integrated in its clinical information system. The system is installed at over 1,200 sites in France, Agfa said.

"This is an important first step in our strategy to become a leading European player in this fast growing market of information systems for the hospital sector," said Ludo Verhoeven, Agfa's CEO. "From a supplier of diagnostic and image management tools for the radiology departments, we are now evolving to a vendor of diagnostic as well as administrative tools, allowing the hospitals to better manage the care process and thus to contribute to making healthcare spending affordable and controllable."

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