There’s no doubt that MRI systems provide accurate clinical diagnostics, but the system’s high price tag and expensive patient fees still make it more of a rarity in China. Currently, MRI’s are mostly restricted to top-tier hospitals, translating into something like one MRI system per 1.5 million people in China.

Under China’s ongoing $123 billion medical reform, a greater emphasis is being put on medical devices – science and tech are key buzzwords for the Beijing technocrats. This will afford a greater opportunity for MRI companies (think Mindray) to widen their market, but only of they can offer more compelling pricing and credit terms as well as after-sales service packages.