Local government policies in China have begun to direct public hospitals to prioritize the procurement of certain medical devices and technologies from domestic producers, where available. According to Nikkei.com, notices to this effect were issued in April in Hubei, Anhui, Shanxi, and Ningxia. This move reportedly follows a national-level internal notification issued in May 2021 that listed 315 items of domestically produced products that should be favored. The list includes equipment such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography, x-rays, and endoscopes.
Industry Response and Local Manufacturing
In response to these policies, medical device companies are increasingly establishing local manufacturing capabilities to meet the new requirements. Japan’s Sysmex, which already manufactures blood testing equipment in China, is now adding production of its urine testing products. Hitachi High-Technologies has started assembling both small and medium-sized equipment in Suzhou. In June, Germany-based Siemens Healthineers announced plans to expand its domestic production, positioning itself as a “Chinese company.” Dutch firm Philips and GE Healthcare, two other leaders in the MRI and CT markets, also have local production facilities in place.
Market Dynamics and Future Outlook
China’s aging population and rising health needs mean that few device manufacturers are likely to abandon the market. The medical equipment market was valued at USD 140 billion in 2021, close to the US market size of USD 186.5 billion, and is expected to double by 2025. Public procurement of CTs and MRIs has reached USD 3.5 billion and USD 2 billion respectively each year. These factors underscore the importance of the Chinese market for global medical device companies.-Fineline Info & Tech
