Market Overview

Among the various medical/diagnosis imaging equipment used in hospitals, this research surveyed specifically on radiology PACS (Picture Archive and Communication System,) cardiology PACS, 3D workstation, RIS (Radiology Information System,) radiation therapy information system, quality assurance system, and dose management system, from which the market size was calculated.

Radiology PACS ("PACS"), the core of diagnostic imaging systems, has shifted from new deployment to replacement market and continues to experience moderate negative growth. In addition, the market for PACS peripheral systems, such as RIS, radiation therapy information systems and imaging systems, has already more widespread, also having shifted to replacement market, leading the PACS-related market to generally be on a flat trend.

The medical imaging systems and PACS market size (based on the sales at businesses) in FY2021 was estimated to have increased by 6.9% from the previous fiscal year to 60,062 million yen. It was a recovery from the downturn caused by last-minute spending surge just before the consumption tax hike in FY2019, and from the significant fall stemming from delays in system implementation and upgrading in FY2020 due to the impact of spread of COVID-19 infections.

Noteworthy Topics

After Demand for Dose Management Systems Having Run Its Course, Market on the Decline

A dose management system is a system that records and manages the dosage from radiation exposure by each x-ray apparatus in order to help control the radiation doses for each patient and for each inspection.

In 2018, MHLW showed its policy to oblige the recording of radiation doses as well as the training for medical workers, which considerably expanded the target systems to be deployed. Against this backdrop, the dose management system market from FY2018 to FY2020 remained high growth rates.

The demand for new deployment of dose management systems already reached at its peak in FY2020 when the above-mentioned mandate having taken effect, making the market to go on a downswing by FY2021, with the FY2022 plans by each manufacturer expecting a decline, indicating saturation of the demand. Until around FY2025 when demand for upgrading (replacement) full fledges for the obligated dose management systems, the market is expected to go on a shrinking trend.

Future Outlook

As the influence of corona crises have weakened after FY2022, the medical imaging systems and PACS market is projected to level off around 56,000 million yen.

The efforts of expanding the business of medical imaging systems to various solutions are underway at medical imaging system vendors, such as AI services (for image diagnosis support, business workflow support, etc.,) and PHR services (services that enable the patients to see the medical information  including medical images at a hospital from their smartphones and other devices,) and integration of medical images within digital cameras, etc., which is likely to accelerate furthermore hereafter.

Research Outline