Very few new hospitals have been built in central and eastern Europe. But that might be about to change, as the crash cuts land and construction costs.

For years, many healthcare groups have talked of building new hospitals in Poland, Romania and Eastern Europe. But spending €40m plus, when there is no private healthcare insurance to guarantee patients, is a big step.

In fact, apart from Medicover's Warsaw hospital (severely over budget) and, extraordinarily, a new hospital built by Hygiea in Albania, we know of no major build projects, even though there is a lot of talk on the subject.

But we do hear that this may be about to change. Asklepios, Europe's biggest hospital operator, is one of a number of large operators who may be tempted east as prices fall. If land prices crash, and the price of building falls, we may well see a spate of new hospitals.