CT scanners at medical facilities across South Korea are aging rapidly, with 40% of equipment at clinics now more than a decade old, according to new data.
The National Health Insurance Service announced on the 12th that 34.5% of CT scanners nationwide were manufactured more than 10 years ago as of 2024, based on its geographic analysis of regional distribution and equipment age. This represents a 1.9 percentage point increase from 32.6% in 2020.
The total number of CT scanners continues to grow. Domestic CT units increased 14.3% from 2,113 in 2020 to 2,416 in 2024. CT scan procedures rose 33.3% during the same period, from 11.05 million to 14.73 million.
Regional analysis shows non-metropolitan areas have more CT scanners per capita than the Seoul metropolitan region. The national average stood at 4.7 units per 100,000 people in 2024, with metropolitan areas at 4.4 and non-metropolitan areas at 5.1. Daegu, Gwangju, and North Jeolla Province exceeded 6 units per 100,000 people, while Gyeonggi Province (3.7) and Incheon (4.1) fell below the national average.
Aging equipment ratios varied significantly by region. Ulsan had the highest proportion of aging CT scanners at 52.1%, followed by Gwangju, Busan, Gangwon, Daegu, and Incheon. While the national average for aging CT units was 1.6 per 100,000 people, Gwangju, Daegu, Ulsan, Busan, and North Jeolla Province each operated more than 2 units.
Among medical facility types, clinics had the highest proportion of aging CT scanners at 39.8%, followed by hospitals at 34.5%, general hospitals at 32.8%, and tertiary hospitals at 28.6%. Smaller medical facilities appear to be slower in replacing equipment.
Performance levels showed stark differences. Lower-performance equipment, such as single-channel or sub-16-channel scanners, had aging rates exceeding 90%. High-performance CT scanners with 64 or more channels showed aging rates of 20-30%.
Experts warn that aging CT scanners could affect patient safety and diagnostic accuracy. "Aging CT equipment can lead to degraded image quality, increased likelihood of repeat scans, and difficulties in managing radiation exposure," said Chung Seung-eun, President of the Korean Society of Radiology. "We need equipment management policies that consider regional and institutional characteristics."
The NHIS expects this analysis to serve as foundational data for medical equipment management policy development. "We plan to continue monitoring regional medical equipment status using geospatial analysis programs and reviewing measures to manage aging equipment and rationalize medical resource supply and demand," said Chung Ki-suk, Chairman of the National Health Insurance Service.