The 90th China International Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF) recently took place at the International Convention and Exhibition Center in Bao’an, Shenzhen, attracting nearly 4,000 companies showcasing tens of thousands of medical device products from both domestic and international markets. During the opening ceremony, the organizer, China National Pharmaceutical Group’s exhibition company, signed a cooperation agreement with the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM). Together, they are set to hold an exhibition in Malaysia next year, aimed at helping more Chinese medical devices enter international markets and promoting deeper integration within the global medical device industry.
CMEF is often regarded as the “barometer” of the global healthcare industry. This year’s event, themed “Innovative Technology, Leading the Future,” spanned four days with an exhibition area covering almost 200,000 square meters. Throughout the fair, nearly 60 forums and conferences were conducted, gathering around 600 industry leaders and opinion makers in Shenzhen, contributing invaluable insights into the future of the global health industry.
A notable trend at this year’s CMEF was the increasing value of domestically produced medical devices. The event featured a substantial presence of well-known companies across the entire medical device industry chain, from medical imaging and in vitro diagnostics to medical electronics. Innovative products utilizing cutting-edge technologies like AI, big data, and cloud platforms were on full display, highlighting the strength of high-end medical equipment innovation. The exhibition was divided into 14 thematic areas, including medical imaging, surgical instruments, and orthopedics, giving a comprehensive view of the medical industry’s full supply chain.
In Hall 12, attendees experienced a convergence of “high-tech” innovations from global medical equipment companies, with bustling crowds around booths featuring medical imaging devices, radiation therapy, telemedicine solutions, and surgical robots. Among the standout exhibits was a domestic orthopedic surgical robot capable of simultaneously covering hip and knee joints, breaking the long-standing monopoly of imports.
A critical focus of the fair was the push to expand quality medical resources into underserved regions, promoting a more balanced distribution of healthcare services. Several exhibitors discussed their active roles in implementing digital solutions to revolutionize medical services, addressing the vast needs of grassroots healthcare.
From ventilators to AI-based imaging and surgical robots, China’s medical devices are making significant strides on the global stage. Recent policy support for innovation in high-end medical equipment has sped up approval processes, facilitating a swift market entry for domestically developed devices with proprietary intellectual property.
CMEF has also established itself as a global integrated platform for the medical device industry. The fair featured multiple sub-brand exhibitions focused on hot topics like medical device design and manufacturing, smart health, and emergency rescue, creating an international platform for showcasing, networking, and collaboration, covering the entire industry chain from source to end-user.
In a new initiative, the 37th China International Medical Device Design and Manufacturing Technology Exhibition honed in on the upstream supply chain, gathering over 500 domestic and international upstream companies and more than 10,000 products, showcasing significant growth in both exhibitors and products to support the transformation of the upstream medical device industry.
The impressive growth figures reflect the high-quality development of China’s medical device industry. As of December 31, 2023, there were 36,675 medical device manufacturers nationwide. Among them, 25,817 companies are capable of producing Class I devices, 17,187 for Class II devices, and 2,670 for Class III devices, marking growth rates of 9.68%, 8.50%, and 15.48%, respectively. Guangdong province leads the country with 5,052 medical device production companies and a total of 38,871 varieties of medical devices.
Academician Fan Daming from the Chinese Academy of Engineering remarked that medical devices are critical to the health industry. He noted the rich variety of exhibits at the fair, which reflect a growing public awareness of health. The increasing number of domestically produced medical devices with independent intellectual property highlights China’s rising innovation capacity. “The high-quality development of medical care and safety relies heavily on high-end medical devices. Given this trend, I feel confident as a physician,” Fan stated.
Looking to international markets, Chinese companies are confidently embarking on overseas ventures. The track record of domestically produced medical devices finding success abroad is noteworthy, as leading medical device manufacturers have set benchmarks for “Made in China.” Numerous mid-tier and startup companies are following suit, also seeking to make their mark internationally.
According to data from the General Administration of Customs, China’s medical device exports reached 484.30187 billion yuan in 2023, with medical equipment exports growing by 5.4% year-on-year, and an impressive 54.8% increase compared to 2019.
This year’s CMEF’s international exhibition area welcomed representatives from over 20 countries and regions, including Germany, the United States, Canada, South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and Singapore, showcasing their latest products.
Notably, the partnership between China National Pharmaceutical Group and APHM was a highlight at this year’s fair. They plan to collaborate on an exhibition in Malaysia next year as part of the ASEAN Health Industry series, marking a significant collective entry of Chinese medical device companies into the Malaysian market.
“The performance, quality, and cost-effectiveness of Chinese medical devices are highly regarded in Malaysia,” said Kuljit Singh, President of APHM. This cooperation signifies the first large-scale appearance of Chinese medical device companies in Malaysia, helping local healthcare institutions better understand these products while providing a platform for companies to expand internationally.
Kuljit Singh further praised CMEF, noting, “For representatives from Malaysia, the opportunity to interact directly with manufacturers and distributors is incredibly valuable. This experience not only assists in the procurement of medical equipment but also deepens collaboration between Malaysia and China in healthcare.”
