Hospitals mull refurbished medtech and upgrades to cut costs

Healthcare providers are under growing pressure to juggle the need for the latest medical technology with increasingly tight budgets.Refurbished imaging equipment and MRI upgrades are a way for some facilities to modernize their technology without the cost of buying new systems. These options could save hospitals significant sums compared with buying new, according to medtech companies and hospitals.Buying refurbished medical equipment is gaining traction. The U.S. market is projected to grow from about $5.9 billion in 2025 to more than $13.6 billion by 2033, with medical imaging equipment accounting for the largest segment, according to a recent Grand View Research report.These options are not limited to any one type of facility, said Ariella Shuster, head of the circular lifetime solutions business for Philips. Large health systems may choose the newest equipment where cutting-edge capabilities are needed, while using refurbished equipment at sites focused on routine imaging and faster patient throughput. Smaller outpatient and rural facilities may favor refurbished systems when affordability is a priority.More providers are also considering upgrades to existing MRI scanners as an alternative to buying new.“It’s a trend,” said Adam Fairbourn, senior director of capital equipment solutions at Vizient. “I think we’re definitely seeing a lot more of it.”Here are two examples of how healthcare providers are putting these options to use.Refurbished medical imaging equipmentAshland, Alabama-based Clay County Rural Emergency Hospital was able to offer 3D mammography to its patients in 2025 for the first time by going the refurbished route. It purchased a refurbished Mammomat Revelation mammography system from Siemens Healthineers’ Circuline business.“When Siemens [Healthineers] visited our facility, we were able to actually view images under our old 2D mammography machine and then view images with the 3D mammography machine, and it was day and night difference of the quality of the imaging,” said CEO Stephen Young.Before the hospital purchased the new system, patients in the community had to drive about 45 minutes to the nearest location that offered a 3D exam, he said.The financing was a key factor in the hospital’s decision, allowing it to spread the cost of the refurbished system over monthly payments rather than take on what Young said he thought would be a much larger upfront cost for a new system.Siemens Healthineers offers two refurbishment options within its lifecycle products business: ecoline systems are fully rebuilt at the factory to meet the same requirements as new systems, while Circuline systems are lightly reconditioned pre-owned machines that are cleaned, repaired as needed and configured to the customer’s specifications.Ecoline systems are typically priced 10% to 20% below comparable new systems, and Circuline systems can cost up to 20% less when the same model is still available, said Niral Patel, head of the lifecycle products business at Siemens Healthineers.