Current situation and future demand of allocation of medical devices in member hospitals of medical alliance:a cross-sectional study

Objective To investigate the current situation and future demand of the allocation of medical apparatus and instruments among member hospitals of a medical alliance sponsored by Liaoning Provincial Cancer Hospital and to explore major impact factors of the allocation.Methods We conducted a questionnaire survey among 36 member hospitals to collect baseline information in December 2013.Results Of all the medical devices allocated in the 36 member hospitals,1 649 sets (56.73%) were made in China and 1 258 (43.27%) were imported.For all the highly and moderately sophisticated devises allocated in the member hospitals,the ratios of domestically made devices were only 15.85% and 29.41%,significantly lower than those (84.14% and 70.95%) of imported devices (χ²=860.95,P<0.05).The estimated total number of the devices to be installed in the member hospitals during the next three years is 310 sets,including 199 imported and 111 domestically made devices.The most demanded devices are medical imaging equipments,which were required by 25 member hospitals,followed by equipments for endoscopic examination required by 16 member hospitals.Conclusion Imported devices account for most of the moderately and highly sophisticated medical devices already installed and to be allocated near future in medical institutions;quality and market competitiveness of domestically made sophisticated medical devices need to be improved urgently.