The normalization of centralized procurement is accelerating the rise of domestically produced CT scanners, with Zhisu Medical’s CT X-ray tube products empowering whole‑machine manufacturers through core technologies.

In recent years, centralized procurement of CT scanners has become a standard practice nationwide, and the centralized purchasing of medical equipment has increasingly come under the scrutiny of local health commissions and medical insurance authorities. Large-scale provincial-level centralized procurement initiatives are now appearing with growing frequency. In terms of procurement regulations, in addition to Zhejiang Province, several other provinces—including Anhui, Inner Mongolia, and Guangxi—have successively issued documents on centralized volume‑based procurement of medical devices. As a result, national “centralized procurement” of medical equipment is steadily advancing toward a new phase of normalization and standardization.

Quantity and Price Trends Under Centralized Procurement

Since the beginning of 2025, large-scale centralized procurement contracts for medical equipment have been emerging one after another: Fujian Provincial Health Commission’s CT/MR project exceeding RMB 800 million; more than 200 CT systems for county-level medical consortia in Hunan Province; 13 CT units in Guizhou Province; 148 CT systems in Henan Province; and 20 CT units procured by the Heilongjiang Provincial Health Commission, among others. The winning bid prices have also drawn significant attention: the unit price for a 16-slice CT was RMB 636,000, for a 32-slice CT RMB 910,000, for a 64-slice CT RMB 2.126 million, and for a 128-slice CT RMB 4.19 million—along with a 256-slice CT priced at RMB 7 million. The vast majority of these centralized procurement projects stipulate a three-year warranty, with some extending it to five years.

The significant cost‑saving effect would not have been possible without the support of major medical‑device manufacturers. In provincial centralized procurement, domestic players have stood out, with their competitiveness in the CT‑equipment market markedly strengthened. As the pace of imaging‑equipment procurement across provinces accelerates, the trend is clear: domestically produced CT scanners are entering an unprecedented period of growth. With equipment prices declining, high‑value‑for‑money products have become the key to market success. As a core, high‑value consumable, the technical sophistication and cost‑control capabilities of X‑ray tubes directly determine a manufacturer’s competitive edge in centralized procurement. Leveraging its forward‑looking insights and in‑depth analysis of China’s medical‑imaging market landscape, key pain points, and the accelerating trend toward domestic substitution, ZhiShu Technology launched a systematic, end‑to‑end strategic rollout as early as 2022. Firmly committed to investing in core, in‑house R&D, the company has successfully built a comprehensive portfolio of medical CT X‑ray tubes that covers low-, mid-, and high‑end application scenarios, precisely aligning with the needs of healthcare institutions at different levels and a wide range of use cases.

In response to evolving market demands and policy directions, Zhisu Technology’s core strategic pillar lies in deep co‑creation and collaboration with leading domestic OEMs.

Close joint research and development: Zhisu Technology does not merely supply standardized components; instead, it establishes joint R&D partnerships with core system‑level equipment partners, seamlessly integrating the technological strengths and clinical insights of both sides. Together, they co‑define, develop, and rapidly iterate product models that are highly tailored to the specific characteristics of the Chinese market and dedicated platform architectures, ensuring optimal performance and superior compatibility. Flexible ancillary options: Zhishu Technology possesses full‑range, in‑house R&D and mass‑production capabilities for X‑ray tubes, enabling it to offer flexible, reliable, and highly competitive component solutions to system manufacturers across different market segments—ranging from high‑end research‑oriented models to mid‑range workhorse units and entry‑level, widely accessible systems—thus helping partners swiftly adapt to market dynamics and diverse customer needs.
Core Advantages in the Context of Centralized Procurement: By deeply understanding the policy direction of national centralized procurement, Zhisu Technology has leveraged its forward‑looking technological reserves and lean manufacturing system to not only ensure product performance at an internationally advanced level, but also to establish distinct advantages in cost optimization, supply chain stability, and localized service responsiveness. This enables OEMs to gain a critical edge in competitive bidding and collectively accelerates the localization of high‑end medical equipment.

Zhisu’s Core Advantages in Tackling Centralized Procurement

High-end in-house R&D leadership: Continuously investing heavily in the independent R&D of liquid-metal‑bearing medical CT tubes for high-end applications, Zhibu is injecting cutting-edge technologies and product innovations into domestically produced replacement tubes amid the emerging trend of centralized procurement. Scaled Production Capacity Assurance: As the localization process accelerates and market demand is better met, Zhishu’s 4,000-square-meter smart factory in Hangzhou, commissioned last year, is gradually ramping up mass production of medical CT X-ray tubes. Independent core components: With extensive in-house R&D capabilities for core components and the capacity for mass production, as well as a pioneering liquid-metal bearing R&D laboratory, we meet the dual constraints of pricing and compliance under centralized procurement. Multidimensional Cooperative Ecosystem: Adopting a multi‑channel approach, particularly through close collaboration with domestic OEMs, we have established a multidimensional foundation for industry–university–research–clinical integration. Innovative Service Model: We have deeply cultivated a hospital‑level maintenance and service model and established partnerships with numerous qualified domestic distributors, building an extensive sales network. Supply chain security and controllability: We have innovated our maintenance and service model, consistently adhering to a full‑stack, scenario‑based “tube‑as‑a‑service” approach. We have also established robust supply‑chain security management, implementing multiple measures to ensure supply‑chain stability and sustainable development, with a domestic‑content ratio of 95% or higher.

ZhiShu looks to the future.

The rise of domestically produced CT brands is the result of breakthroughs in technology, market demand, and policy guidance. Looking ahead, as the state increases investment in primary‑level healthcare, the trend of high‑end CT products penetrating lower‑tier markets will become even more pronounced. As one of the highest‑value consumables in a complete CT system, the medical X‑ray tube remains a strategic cornerstone for advancing the localization of high‑end medical equipment. In particular, in the ultra‑high‑end CT segment—128‑slice and above—the longstanding overseas monopoly on core technologies has emerged as a major bottleneck hindering the upgrading of China’s medical‑equipment industry. Zhishu has consistently strived to break this monopoly through domestic substitution, and its leadership in the National Key R&D Program’s key special project, “Research and Development of High‑Performance, High‑Reliability CT Tubes” under the theme “Diagnostic and Therapeutic Equipment and Biomedical Materials,” marks an important step forward. Large‑scale domestic centralized procurement initiatives not only signify a pivotal milestone in the ascent of Chinese‑made CT systems but also herald a new starting point for reshaping the domestic medical‑device market landscape. With advantages in technology, cost efficiency, and policy support, Zhishu’s domestically developed CT tubes are helping whole‑system manufacturers stand out in fierce competition, ultimately accelerating the localization of China’s medical‑device market.