Snapshot of the Used CT and MRI Market — What does it mean for Healthcare?

Used medical devices are essential to the healthcare system, both in the U.S. and abroad.  Not all hospitals and clinics can afford to purchase brand-new, state-of-the-art equipment.  Others, such as those in developing markets, or in areas with thin patient populations, rely on used/refurbished medical equipment to provide care for their patients.

Diagnostic imaging is a critical component of the healthcare system, and two of the more expensive imaging devices available today are CT Scanners and MRI machines.  Due to their high cost, they are some of the most widely sought medical devices in the pre-owned medical equipment market.  Buying a used CT Scanner or a used MRI machine can often amount to savings in the tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars for a clinic or hospital.

In recent years, medical equipment manufacturers have placed hurdles on the buying and selling of used medical equipment.   Many prefer to destroy or “scrap” the machines to prevent them from competing with new equipment sales. But the market continues to flourish; and there are hundreds of vendors and highly qualified service organizations around the world installing and safely servicing these medical devices.

We conducted an informal study to assess the market for used CT scanners and MRI machines.  The info-graphic, available for download below, shows a quick snapshot of this study.  Note that this study reflects only the devices offered for sale at any given time, and did not address how many of such devices were actually sold, or how long they had been on the market.  It’s safe to say that a hospital or clinic seeking a refurbished CT scanner or MRI machine should have little difficulty finding one.

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