Medical imaging equipment comprises a variety of instruments that use different media as information carriers to reconstruct the internal structures of the human body into images. The image data maintain a spatial and temporal correspondence with the actual anatomical structures. Advances in modern medical imaging have expanded the concept of “image information” beyond its original, rudimentary meaning; today, such information can also encode biological data—such as physiological functions and biochemical constituents—while morphological analysis remains only one of its fundamental components. Consequently, the emerging notion of “imaging” has come to signify comprehensive, multi‑dimensional information.

　　In recent years, amid a wave of efforts to promote the domestic production of medical devices, some local authorities have explicitly stipulated in their procurement of large‑scale medical imaging equipment that “imports are prohibited,” thereby creating greater opportunities for domestic imaging‑equipment manufacturers to win contracts.

　　Domestication Support Policies for Medical Imaging Equipment

　　In recent years, in order to support the domestic production of large medical imaging equipment, some local authorities have included “prohibition of imports” in their tender documents.

　　In November 2022, Fujian Province excluded imported products from its centralized procurement of large medical imaging equipment, including 64-slice and higher CT (computed tomography) systems and 1.5T and higher MR (magnetic resonance imaging) systems.

　　In February and March 2023, several medical institutions—including Tianjin Chest Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, and Baotou Central Hospital—explicitly stated in their tender documents for large-scale medical imaging equipment that they would not accept bids for imported products.

　　According to the relevant authorities’ definition of imported products, any goods that enter China through customs clearance and inspection and originate from outside the customs territory fall under this category.

　　This means that, if the relevant equipment can be localized, it could once again qualify for tendering; accordingly, GE Healthcare China has established its manufacturing facility within the country.

　　According to TradeWind01, which obtained information from GE Healthcare China, the company’s Chinese manufacturing facilities currently cover the research, development, and production of medical devices ranging from entry-level to top-of-the-line models.

　　“Especially over the past two years, we have successfully brought to market more than 30 domestically developed products, including a molecular imaging portfolio featuring precision medicine capabilities, GE Healthcare’s globally leading 256-slice Revolution CT, the Little Dragon mobile X‑ray system, the high‑end R860 ventilator, as well as cutting‑edge obstetric and cardiac ultrasound systems and anesthesia machines,” noted Zhang Yihao, President and CEO of GE Healthcare China.

　　Zhang Yihao also revealed a set of localization figures on the spot: in 2022, GE Healthcare China’s domestic procurement reached RMB 9 billion, and in the first quarter of 2023, the share of products manufactured in China accounted for over 70% of total sales.

　　“Over the next three years, as our domestic supply chain continues to improve, we will further deepen our collaboration with local suppliers and build a more resilient supply‑chain ecosystem,” Zhang Yihao stated. “We are currently leveraging the supply‑chain footprint of our five major plants in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuxi, and Tianjin to fully advance the comprehensive localization of our entire product portfolio and end-to-end value chain.”

　　GE Healthcare is not the only foreign‑brand medical imaging equipment manufacturer to embark on localization.

　　In June last year, Siemens Healthineers announced that it would compete in the market as a “China‑based company” by pursuing three strategic pillars: accelerating the localization of its entire product portfolio, deepening innovation and R&D to better address Chinese market needs, and upgrading its local business model. In October of the same year, Siemens Healthineers reorganized its former Asia‑Pacific region into two distinct divisions—China and the rest of Asia‑Pacific—to more effectively implement its localization strategy.

　　“By 2030, China is expected to become the world’s largest medical technology market, and following this spin-off, the company’s position in the Chinese market will be further strengthened,” said Tao Lin, President of Siemens Healthineers Asia Pacific.

　　Domestic production may merely mark the beginning of foreign brands’ localization, and competing with domestic manufacturers for the lower-tier county‑level markets is now on the agenda. In the past, Chinese players such as United Imaging Healthcare have focused on these lower‑tier markets—particularly county towns—in order to pursue a differentiated competitive strategy against overseas brands.

　　According to the “2023–2028 Market Development Status Survey and Supply-Demand Analysis Forecast Report on the Medical Imaging Equipment Industry” by the Zhongyan Puhua Research Institute:

　　According to data from Zhongcheng Medical Devices, demand for CT scanners in China’s medical institutions has been growing exponentially in recent years, and is projected to reach RMB 29.05 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.3%. In the upstream segment of the medical imaging equipment industry, key players in core components and parts include Wandong Medical, Yirui Technology, Kangzhong Medical, and Sire New Materials. Midstream equipment manufacturers and distributors comprise United Imaging Healthcare, Xiangsheng Medical, KeLi Medical, and Anjian Medical, while the downstream market comprises medical institutions at all levels.

　　Amid surging demand for pulmonary CT scans in hospitals, the medical imaging equipment sector has likewise come under market scrutiny, with many investors querying relevant companies about their business operations on investor‑relations platforms.

　　As United Imaging Healthcare, which primarily sells medical imaging equipment, has seen a sharp surge in CT‑scan volumes, the company recently stated, “Since the end of last year, demand for first‑tier CT systems has been on the rise, and we expect this to have a positive impact on our first‑quarter results. However, large‑scale medical equipment undergoes lengthy acceptance procedures, so it will take time for the spike in CT‑system orders to translate into revenue.”

　　“Post‑pandemic, the surge in demand for medical imaging equipment is likely to be a short‑term boost, as hospitals—its primary downstream customers—have fixed‑asset investment needs and budgets. Moreover, medical imaging equipment represents a relatively mature category of capital expenditure; whether the temporary increase in CT‑scan demand can sustainably stimulate the market remains to be seen,” said Qin Ruohan, General Manager of Jinhua Fund, to reporters.

　　However, from a long-term industry perspective, compared with the global landscape, China’s medical imaging equipment sector has consistently been characterized by low industry concentration, relatively small enterprise sizes, and a low share of domestically produced products in the mid- to high-end market. According to data from Zhiyan Consulting, driven by both market demand and favorable policy support, China’s medical imaging equipment market is expected to continue expanding: its market size reached RMB 53.7 billion in 2020, and is projected to approach RMB 110 billion by 2030, with an anticipated compound annual growth rate of 7.3%.

　　“In the long term, the key drivers of the medical imaging equipment industry are: macro‑policy forces encouraging the substitution of domestic devices for imports; economic factors stemming from an ample domestic supply that could lead to lower equipment prices; and technological factors, such as superior performance metrics or integrated, all‑in‑one diagnostic capabilities,” said Qin Ruohan.

　　At present, the domestic self-sufficiency rate of high-end medical devices in China remains low, and the industrial chain suffers from imbalanced and inadequate development. The situation of heavy reliance on imports for critical technologies and core components has yet to undergo fundamental improvement. Accelerating research and development of key core technologies, breaking through bottlenecks in technical equipment, and swiftly addressing the shortcomings in China’s high-end medical‑equipment sector constitute the most urgent and paramount task for industry, academia, and research institutions in this field.

　　The 2023 Shenzhen International High-Performance Medical Device Exhibition is themed “Bringing Together Cutting-Edge Innovation to Forge a Hub of Intelligent Manufacturing.” With the goal of establishing four world‑class pillars—namely, an advanced medical device technology launch center, a centralized trade hub for medical devices, a platform for the engineering translation and exchange of innovative research outcomes, and a center for the development of critical bottleneck components—the event encompasses the entire ecosystem spanning industry, academia, research, clinical practice, investment, government, and governance. By building a robust platform for industrial collaboration, it aims to drive both domestic and international investment and talent recruitment. This exhibition will be a high‑profile, high‑standard, high‑level global gathering in the high‑performance medical device sector, deeply attuned to pressing challenges and highly targeted. It will provide a broad forum for dialogue and cooperation, helping China’s high‑end medical device industry break through developmental bottlenecks and achieve high‑quality growth.

　　Shenzhen’s high-end medical device industry got off to an early start and enjoys a strong foundation, with its scale and total output ranking among the highest in China and establishing the city as a globally significant hub for this sector. Vigorously developing the high-end medical device industry, fostering and strengthening national strategic capabilities in this field, and safeguarding public health are not only major tasks entrusted to Shenzhen by the nation but also its core responsibility and commitment. Taking this year’s exhibition as a starting point, Shenzhen will continue to refine its industrial and innovation chains, steadily build an innovative ecosystem for high-end medical devices, and implement concrete measures to support the growth, transformation, and upgrading of medical device enterprises—ensuring that citizens benefit from higher‑quality healthcare services and helping Shenzhen establish itself as a new pillar industry, following in the footsteps of electronic information and the internet.

　　The “2023–2028 Market Development Status Survey and Supply‑Demand Analysis Forecast Report on Medical Imaging Equipment” was prepared by the Zhongyan Puhua Research Institute. This report analyzes the industry’s supply and demand dynamics, current development status, and evolving trends, with a particular focus on the sector’s present conditions, strategies for addressing its challenges, recommendations for future growth, competitive landscape, as well as investment analysis and trend projections. Additionally, the report comprehensively reviews overall industry developments and offers practical guidance and concrete solutions regarding product‑related issues.