An overview of domestic PET scanner suppliers and the current state of the Japanese market. Toshiba-affiliated companies, Shimadzu Corporation, Hitachi Medical (now Fujifilm Healthcare), and Fujifilm itself are cited as major domestic players, while European and US companies have also entered the market through their Japanese subsidiaries. Key procurement considerations include lead times, regulatory approval, maintenance arrangements, and supply chain stability.
In Japan's PET scanner market, potential domestic sources include major European and US companies such as GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, and Philips, as well as Japanese companies including Toshiba (now Canon Medical Systems), Shimadzu Corporation, Hitachi Medical (now Fujifilm Healthcare), and Fujifilm. Fujifilm acquired Hitachi Medical and currently supplies diagnostic imaging equipment, including PET systems, as Fujifilm Healthcare. Shimadzu Corporation also continues to supply the domestic market.
Points that Japanese buyers should check when procuring equipment include the lead time from installation through commissioning, the schedule including integration with related equipment, whether the equipment has received regulatory approval, including PMDA approval, and complies with the Radio Act, as well as the status of maintenance contracts and parts inventories for advanced technologies such as detectors and cooling systems. It is also considered important to assess the supplier's stability and the availability of alternative sources of supply in advance.
In terms of requirements by application, hospitals are said to prioritize high throughput and consistent image quality, diagnostic centers cost efficiency and ease of operation, and research centers high spatial and temporal resolution and flexibility. These requirements may also affect equipment design and software functionality.