For the 2012 fiscal fourth quarter, Philips Healthcare recorded a comparable sales growth of 4 percent, led by single-digit growth in home healthcare systems, mid-single digit growth in customer service and low-single-digit growth in imaging systems and patient care and clinical informatics.

Specifically, sales for the Philips Healthcare group rose from EUR 2.72 billion ($3.68 billion USD) to EUR 2.918 billion ($3.95 billion USD).

The reported earnings before interest and taxes increased from EUR 409 million ($553.96 million USD) in the 2011 fourth quarter to EUR 434 million ($587.82 million USD) in the 2012 fourth quarter. These earnings included restructuring and acquisition-related charges of EUR 114 million ($154.4 million USD)—which is EUR 93 million ($125.98 million USD) higher than the fourth quarter of 2011.

However, orders in North America declined by mid-single-digits, “reflecting the continued market uncertainties pertaining to the ‘fiscal cliff’ and the elections,” said the North Andover, Mass.-based company. Meanwhile, equipment orders in growth geographies grew by 7 percent.

Compared with 2011 fourth quarter, the number of employees within Philips Healthcare decreased by 495, “driven by overhead cost reductions,” according to the company. At the conclusion of the 2012 fourth quarter, the total number of FTEs was 37,460 within the healthcare unit.