The world's first, the world's first! In the past five years, domestic medical equipment has risen to prominence, breaking the 90% market share in Europe and America

Have you noticed that when you go to the hospital for a check-up recently, those high-end devices are getting more and more advanced? And many of them are made in China!

In the past, high-end medical equipment was almost monopolized by foreign brands, but now, more and more domestic "powerful tools" are changing this situation. Today, let's talk about the story behind this - how to move from "following" to "taking the lead".

From "following" to "keeping pace", and then to "taking the lead".

Over the past five years, China's medical science and technology have undergone earth-shaking changes. Not only have more good and new drugs been included in the medical insurance directory, but also a large number of independently innovative medical devices have begun to emerge. Behind all this lies the support of national policies, technological breakthroughs and industrial upgrading.

Breakthroughs in medical imaging diagnostic equipment.

Medical imaging diagnostic equipment is the "eyes" of doctors, which can help them detect lesions earlier and more accurately. In recent years, China has achieved a number of major breakthroughs in this regard:

The world's first micrometer-level ear CT: Independently developed by Chinese scientists, this CT has a resolution of 10 micrometers and can clearly identify the complex structure of the ear. Academician Wang Zhenchang of the Chinese Academy of Engineering pointed out that this improvement in resolution has brought about significant changes in clinical applications.

The world's first 8cm wide-body photon-counting CT: It has achieved a technological breakthrough in "photon direct reading", featuring ultra-high-definition imaging, ultra-low dose scanning and ultra-fast scanning speed. This means that patients can obtain clearer images under lower radiation conditions while reducing waiting time.

The emergence of these devices has not only enhanced the diagnosis and treatment level of domestic medical institutions, but also contributed Chinese wisdom to the development of global medical imaging technology.

The rise of domestic medical equipment

In the past, the high-end medical equipment market was almost monopolized by imported products, especially large-scale equipment such as CT and MRI from European and American brands, which occupied more than 90% of the market share. However, with domestic enterprises' continuous investment in technological research and development, this situation is gradually changing.

High-end development and intelligence go hand in hand

In the past five years, domestic medical equipment has been continuously advancing towards high-end and intelligent development. Not only has it caught up with the international leading level in technology, but it has even achieved surpassing in some fields:

Minimally invasive surgical robots: The application of such equipment makes surgeries more precise, causes less trauma, and significantly shortens the recovery time for patients. For instance, some domestic surgical robots have already been capable of achieving high-precision operations in fields such as coronary artery bypass grafting and neurosurgery.

Intelligent image analysis system: By integrating AI technology, domestic equipment can automatically identify lesion areas, provide auxiliary diagnostic suggestions, reduce the workload of doctors, and improve diagnostic efficiency.

The successful application of these devices marks that domestic medical equipment has shifted from "following" to "keeping pace", and some products have even achieved "taking the lead".

Innovative drugs and medical devices are being accelerated in hospitals, benefiting more patients.

In order to enable more innovative drugs and medical devices to be applied in clinical practice as soon as possible, Guangzhou has issued the "Notice on Twelve Measures for Further Promoting the Application of Innovative Drugs and Medical Devices" (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice"), aiming to bridge the "last mile" for innovative drugs and medical devices to enter hospitals.

Highlights of the new policy in Guangzhou.

Priority should be given to including innovative drugs or medical devices in the drug or medical device directory of medical institutions: It is required that each medical institution hold no less than four relevant working meetings each year, and promptly include innovative drugs and medical devices in the directory as needed, ensuring that "all that should be included are included".

Dynamic monitoring mechanism: Relying on the refined management platform, dynamic monitoring of the application of innovative drugs and medical devices is conducted. For varieties that have not been included in the directory or purchased and used in a timely manner, the relevant medical institutions are required to provide written explanations of the reasons.

Payment relaxation: It is clearly stipulated that the related expenses of innovative drugs and medical devices will not be included in the performance monitoring indicators such as the average cost per outpatient visit and the average drug cost per inpatient visit, to prevent the rational use of innovative products from being affected by cost control.

These measures undoubtedly provide strong support for the promotion and application of innovative drugs and medical devices, enabling more patients to benefit from the latest scientific and technological achievements as soon as possible.

The global competitiveness of mid-to-high-end products has significantly increased.

According to statistics from the Southern Institute of Pharmaceutical Economics under the National Medical Products Administration, as of September 1, 2025, 369 innovative medical devices have been approved for marketing, among which 54 innovative medical devices were launched from January to September 2025. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other regions have become the areas with the largest number of approved innovative medical devices, accounting for approximately 75.9% of all approved products.

Data shows that the competitiveness of mid-to-high-end products has been enhanced.

As the recognition of domestic medical devices in the global market continues to rise, their export volume has also remained at a relatively high level. Especially in the field of mid-to-high-end products, the competitiveness of domestic equipment has significantly increased.

The regulatory system has been continuously improved to promote high-quality development.

To ensure the safety and effectiveness of medical devices, the National Medical Products Administration has been constantly improving the regulatory legal system. At present, the "Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Medical Devices" has been in effect since June 1, 2021, and the Good Supply Practice for Online Sales of Medical Devices was officially released on April 28, 2025. In addition, the Medical Device Administration Law is about to be promulgated, further strengthening the standardized management of the industry.

Support full life-cycle innovation.

The National Medical Products Administration has also issued the "Measures for Optimizing the Full Life Cycle Supervision to Support the Innovative Development of High-End Medical Devices", providing comprehensive support in multiple links from research and development, approval, market launch to supervision and internationalization. This not only accelerates the pace of innovative products going to market, but also paves the way for the international development of enterprises.

Light up the lives of more patients.

From "following" to "keeping pace" and then to "taking the lead", the progress of domestic medical equipment cannot be separated from the support of national policies, the technological innovation of enterprises and the active application of medical institutions. In the future, as more innovative drugs and medical devices enter clinical practice, patients will enjoy a higher level of medical services, and the light of life will thus be brighter.

Whether it is micron-level ear CT, photon-counting CT, or minimally invasive surgical robots, the emergence of these "powerful tools" has not only enhanced the domestic medical technology level but also contributed Chinese strength to the global health cause. We look forward to seeing domestic medical equipment continue to write glorious chapters and benefit more patients in the next five years.