Hospitals urged to introduce more domestic equipment

Medical workers arrange pharmaceuticals at the first makeshift hospital built after the 6.5-magnitude earthquake in Longtoushan Town of Ludian County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Aug. 13, 2014. The makeshift hospital, which can accommodate 50 hospitalized patients and 150 clinic patients, was put into service on Wednesday. [Photo: Xinhua/Pei Xin]

Chinese authorities are urging the country's high-end hospitals to introduce more domestic medical equipment to reduce costs for patients.

At present, 70 percent of the country's advanced medical equipment, such as nuclear magnetic resonance and CT scanners, is bought from General Electric, Siemens, and Phillips.

China's health and industry authorities promise to support domestic companies developing and producing hi-end medical equipment, in order to relieve the burden on the medicare system.

PET-CT is generally used for early diagnosis of cancer, as well as the early detection of brain and heart diseases.

But it is not widely used in China due to the high cost that comes with imported equipment.

Zhang Qiang, CEO for a Shanghai medical equipment producer, United Imaging, says the company's most advanced PET-CT produces higher resolution images but costs much less for patients.

"A PET-CT scan generally costs ten thousand yuan in China. In Shanghai, it is 6,500 yuan. And it is not included in medical insurance. With our products being introduced into the market, we think the cost will reduce to about 2,000 yuan. And I also hope this service can be included in the insurance."

Over the past decade, China's medical equipment industry has witnessed an average increase of 25 percent, much higher than its overseas counterparts. Most conventional equipment in Chinese hospitals is domestically-produced.