Chile Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The Chile diagnostic imaging equipment market size is estimated at USD 327.94 million in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 454.43 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.74% during the forecast period (2025-2030). Steady public-sector investment, rapid private-sector digitization, and an aging population that now accounts for 16% of residents reinforce equipment demand across modalities. Oncology’s rise as Chile’s top mortality driver, together with cardiovascular prevalence affecting 27% of adults, pushes providers to upgrade to high-throughput CT, MRI, and mammography units that integrate decision-support software.
Key Report Takeaways
- By modality, X-ray systems led with 25.33% of the Chile diagnostic imaging equipment market share in 2024, whereas MRI is projected to expand at an 8.19% CAGR through 2030.
- By portability, fixed systems commanded 80.21% of the Chile diagnostic imaging equipment market size in 2024, while mobile and handheld systems exhibit the fastest 7.82% CAGR to 2030.
- By application, oncology accounted for 25.54% share of the Chile diagnostic imaging equipment market size in 2024; cardiology is advancing at an 8.34% CAGR through 2030.
- By end user, hospitals captured 56.17% of the Chile diagnostic imaging equipment market size in 2024, yet diagnostic imaging centers record the leading 7.51% CAGR through 2030.
Chile Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
Growing geriatric population | +1.2% | National, concentrated in Santiago, Valparaíso, Concepción | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Rising prevalence of chronic diseases | +1.5% | National, with early gains in Santiago, Valparaíso, Concepción | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Technological advancements & digitization | +1.8% | National, spill-over to regional centers | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
Government investment in hospital network expansion | +1.1% | National, with early gains in Santiago, Valparaíso, Concepción | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Expansion of national teleradiology network | +0.9% | National, particularly benefiting remote regions | Medium term (2-4 years) |
National cancer and cardiovascular initiatives prioritizing advanced diagnostic capacity | +1.3% | National, concentrated in major urban centers | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Growing Geriatric Population
By 2030, people aged 65 and older will form one-fifth of Chile’s residents, and they undergo imaging 3.2 times more often than younger cohorts, especially for musculoskeletal and cardiovascular assessments. National survey results show that 74% of seniors have at least one condition needing routine scans, which pushes hospitals to replace legacy radiography with dose-reduction digital units that cut exposure up to 70%. Procurement teams therefore prioritize patient-friendly gantries and faster table times to minimize discomfort among mobility-restricted elders.
Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases
Cancer has overtaken cardiovascular illness as Chile’s top mortality driver,[1]Source: Cecilia Vial, “A snapshot of cancer in Chile II,” Biological Research, biolres.biomedcentral.com and the National Cancer Institute expanded its research pipeline, signaling higher requirements for CT, mammography, and PET-CT capacity. Cardiovascular disease still burdens 27% of adults, spurring adoption of cardiac CT and MRI that integrate with tele-cardiology platforms. Facilities seek scanners capable of dual oncology-cardiology use to maximize asset utilization, a key strategy in budget-constrained provincial hospitals.
Technological Advancements & Digitization
Local health-tech firm Sked24 cut average appointment delays by 70% through AI-driven scheduling that now supports more than 1 million visits annually. AGFA-RedSalud’s domestic cloud deployment enables AI triage and remote reading while satisfying data-sovereignty rules. Vendors embed algorithms inside scanners. These advances ease radiologists' workload and let smaller sites access subspecialty interpretations.
Government Investment in Hospital Network Expansion
The Ministry of Public Works committed USD 180 million to new Rengo and Pichilemu hospitals that will add 262 beds and incorporate full imaging suites by 2028. Twenty-five further hospitals are simultaneously under construction, marking Chile’s largest ever healthcare build-out. Standardized tenders on the ChileCompra platform streamline purchasing, permitting suppliers to offer volume discounts across modalities. FONASA’s PAD reimbursement scheme removes financial uncertainty for public patients, guaranteeing a baseline scan volume once the new facilities open.
Restraints Impact Analysis
Restraint | (~)% Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
High cost of imaging equipment & procedures | -0.8% | National, particularly affecting smaller regional centers | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Shortage of radiologists & sonographers | -0.6% | National, with acute shortages outside Santiago | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Inadequate reimbursement tariffs for high-end modalities limiting provider ROI | -0.5% | National, particularly affecting ISAPRE beneficiaries | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Limited service and maintenance capabilities outside major metros reducing equipment uptime | -0.4% | Regional, affecting facilities outside Santiago, Valparaíso, Concepción | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
High Cost of Imaging Equipment & Procedures
A single 1.5 T MRI can cost USD 1-3 million, and annual maintenance absorbs 8-12% of purchase value. Private ISAPRE plans reimburse only 60-80% of high-end scan fees, forcing middle-income households to shoulder large co-payments.[2]Source: Andrew Anderson, “Access to medicines for the treatment of chronic diseases in Chile,” BMC Health Services Research, bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com Peso volatility lifts import prices because virtually all scanners arrive from the United States, Europe, or Japan. To counter the strain, vendors propose leasing and pay-per-exam contracts that tie fees to utilization and outcomes.
Shortage of Radiologists & Sonographers
Chile’s radiologist-to-population ratio lags OECD norms, and 18% of posts in public hospitals remain vacant. Scan volumes expand 8-10% annually, so AI triage and tele-radiology have become essential stopgaps that allow metropolitan experts to serve southern and northern hospitals in real time. Career migration toward higher-paying private clinics further widens gaps in public facilities, prompting the Ministry of Health to co-fund residency slots and sponsor overseas fellowships starting in 2026.
Segment Analysis
By Modality: X-ray Dominance Faces MRI Innovation Challenge
X-ray equipment retained 25.33% of the Chile diagnostic imaging equipment market share in 2024 as every emergency department depends on radiography for trauma screening. Demand for digital detectors that slash dose and produce instant images keeps replacement cycles brisk. MRI, while representing a smaller installed base, is growing at 8.19% CAGR because neurological research and oncology follow-up require higher resolution and soft-tissue detail.
Chile’s procurement strategy now favors multi-purpose platforms. A single DR room can manage trauma, chest, and orthopedic exams with AI-based positioning that speeds throughput. MRI vendors highlight non-contrast angiography and synthetic CT capabilities that let oncologists stage disease without additional radiation. Computed tomography suppliers integrate metal-artifact reduction essential for Chile’s sizable orthopedics patient pool linked to mining accidents and sports injuries. Mammography system vendors increasingly deliver tomosynthesis as a standard feature, advancing early lesion detection rates in national screening centers.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Portability: Fixed Systems Anchor Market Despite Mobile Growth
Fixed installations represented 80.21% of the Chile diagnostic imaging equipment market size in 2024, as tertiary hospitals require gantry-mounted MRI and multi-slice CT to handle high patient volumes. Major centers in Santiago and Valparaíso typically operate two to four CT suites each, ensuring redundancy for 24/7 trauma coverage. Mobile systems, however, post a 7.82% CAGR because mountainous geography and island communities necessitate transportable solutions. Mobile CT trailers serve Antofagasta’s mining camps, and handheld ultrasound bridges care gaps in Patagonia’s primary clinics. Vendors now market battery-powered portable X-ray units that fit in emergency vehicles, responding to Chile’s national disaster preparedness protocols linked to seismic risk. The Chile diagnostic imaging equipment market benefits as government grants fund ruggedized equipment certified for earthquake resilience.
Adoption patterns vary by region. Metropolitan public hospitals replace legacy fixed radiography with ceiling-suspended DR to clear floor space and speed patient turnover. Private orthopedics practices adopt compact extremity MRI for dedicated sports medicine workflows. Meanwhile, rural hospitals choose multi-modality vans that combine digital X-ray with ultrasound, enabling a single technologist to perform essential scans on rotational visits. Industry players expect future growth in self-shielded mobile PET-CT that can operate without purpose-built bunkers, extending oncology staging services to secondary cities.
By Application: Oncology Leadership Challenged by Cardiology Growth
Oncology controlled 25.54% of the Chile diagnostic imaging equipment market size in 2024, mirroring cancer’s primacy in national mortality. PET-CT expansion accompanies new radiopharmaceutical import channels through Santiago airport, shortening isotope delivery windows. Cardiology shows the highest 8.34% CAGR; 512-slice CT systems offer sub-second coronary scans that integrate with cloud PACS for rapid cardiologist review. Neurology leverages advanced MRI for stroke triage and dementia studies tied to the rising elder population. Orthopedics imaging revenues sustain mid-single-digit growth as Chile’s agrarian and mining sectors generate high fracture rates. Gastrointestinal and gynecological imaging maintain stable uptake through routine endoscopy and women’s health programs.
Clinical workflows increasingly overlap. Oncologists use cardiac-gated CT to monitor chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, a practice driving cross-department justification for shared equipment. AI algorithms target both oncology lesion mapping and cardiology calcium scoring, allowing providers to justify premium software licenses across specialties. Portable ultrasound sees uptake in oncology wards for vascular access and in cardiology clinics for rapid ejection-fraction assessment, demonstrating convergence of use cases.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By End User: Hospitals Dominate While Imaging Centers Accelerate
Hospitals accounted for 56.17% of the Chile diagnostic imaging equipment market size in 2024, housing the bulk of fixed CT, MRI, and angiography suites. The public FONASA system remains the single largest purchaser, leveraging bulk tenders to equip new regional hospitals. Private groups such as Clínica Alemana and RedSalud differentiate through faster appointment slots and AI-assisted reporting, deepening their scanner refresh cycles every five to seven years. Imaging centers grow at 7.51% CAGR because urban patients value short wait times and specialized staff. Many centers deploy high-end 3 T MRI and dual-energy CT to attract research contracts and clinical trials, a trend underscored by the rise from 20 to 33 device trials between 2021-2023.[3]Source: Charles Sieg, “How Chile Is Shaping Medical Device Clinical Trials in Latin America,” Med Device Online, meddeviceonline.com Smaller clinics and mobile operators cover niche demands, often leasing portable ultrasound or DR systems to manage cash flow.
Competition blurs boundaries: public hospitals outsource overflow scans to private imaging centers under per-case agreements, while private chains build mini-hospitals that include day surgery and intensive care. Vendor service contracts therefore span both segments, bundling hardware, cloud PACS, cybersecurity, and radiologist training into single multi-year deals that cover entire regional ecosystems.
Geography Analysis
Metropolitan Santiago concentrates the Chile diagnostic imaging equipment market, hosting the densest cluster of radiologists, specialty hospitals, and academic research centers. The region’s tertiary hospitals routinely operate multiple MRI magnets and 256-slice CT systems to support trauma, oncology, and cardiac workloads. Valparaíso, the nation’s second urban hub, combines port logistics with provincial referrals, sustaining diversified modality demand and acting as a receiving point for imported scanners. Concepción anchors the south-central corridor, where new public-private hospitals align with forestry and manufacturing industries that require occupational health imaging.
Northern macro-zones, including Antofagasta and Tarapacá, reflect mining-driven demand for on-site digital radiography and low-dose CT to monitor silicosis and musculoskeletal injury among workers. Mobile vans operate along the Pan-American Highway, attending remote camps three to four times monthly. Rise in fixed CT installations in Antofagasta’s trauma centers meets the region’s elevated accident rate, while portable ultrasound assists emergency care at high-altitude sites. Southern regions such as Los Ríos and Los Lagos rely on handheld ultrasound and compact DR units that can be ferried to island clinics across the inland sea.
Chile’s length and mountainous terrain create logistical obstacles that shape supplier strategies. Vendors maintain parts depots in Santiago, Concepción, and Antofagasta to satisfy guaranteed 48-hour service clauses. Equipment frames must meet local seismic standards; hospitals specify reinforced floor mounts and automatic magnet-quench vents. Tele-radiology networks using cloud PACS connect rural hospitals to Santiago sub-specialists, raising justification for advanced modalities at smaller regional sites because interpretation can be outsourced without relocating staff.
Competitive Landscape
The Chile diagnostic imaging equipment market is moderately consolidated, with GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, and Philips supplying most MRI, CT, and premium ultrasound units. Canon Medical Systems and Fujifilm strengthen mid-tier competition through competitive pricing and AI features. AGFA HealthCare leads enterprise imaging software after sealing the RedSalud cloud deal that covers multiple hospitals and imaging centers. Local distributor Global Ultrasonido fills gaps for refurbished ultrasound and DR in community clinics, supporting lower budgets and fast turnaround service.
Strategic alliances define differentiation. Siemens Healthineers pilots value-based partnerships tying lease payment to clinical throughput in provincial hospitals. GE Healthcare’s worldwide radiopharmaceutical acquisition bolsters Chilean PET-CT growth by ensuring isotope supply chain reliability. Canon establishes an innovation hub in Cleveland that will export workflow updates to Chilean install bases, promising remote software upgrades without equipment downtime.
Price competition intensifies in mobile X-ray and portable ultrasound, where handheld entrants undercut established brands. Vendors seek differentiation through AI bundles, dose-management analytics, and cloud PACS integration. Service quality remains a decisive purchase factor because rural hospitals rely on quick part replacement to keep scanners operational in single-system environments. Manufacturers partner with local biomedical engineering schools to certify technicians, strengthening after-sales capacity and satisfying tender requirements for domestic knowledge transfer.
Chile Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Industry Leaders
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Canon Medical Systems Corporation
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Fujifilm Holdings Corporation
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Koninklijke Philips N.V.
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GE HealthCare
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Siemens Healthineers AG
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Recent Industry Developments
- May 2025: Subtle Medical launched FDA-cleared SubtleHD AI in Chile via Hospiline, improving MRI image quality and reducing scan times by up to 80%.
- August 2024: SonoVascular commenced first-in-human use of the SonoThrombectomy System at Hospital DPIRECA in Santiago, demonstrating efficient clot removal with minimal thrombolytic dosage. This will promote the growth of advanced diagnostic imagin equipment.
Chile Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Market Report Scope
Diagnostic imaging is used to take images of the internal structure of the human body, using electromagnetic radiation, for accurate diagnosis of the patient. Diagnostic imaging uses radiation to diagnose and treat diseases.
By Modality | MRI |
Computed Tomography | |
Ultrasound | |
X-ray | |
Nuclear Imaging | |
Fluoroscopy | |
Mammography | |
By Portability | Fixed Systems |
Mobile and Hand-held Systems | |
By Application | Cardiology |
Oncology | |
Neurology | |
Orthopedics | |
Gastroenterology | |
Gynecology | |
Other Applications | |
By End User | Hospitals |
Diagnostic Imaging Centers | |
Other End Users |
MRI |
Computed Tomography |
Ultrasound |
X-ray |
Nuclear Imaging |
Fluoroscopy |
Mammography |
Fixed Systems |
Mobile and Hand-held Systems |
Cardiology |
Oncology |
Neurology |
Orthopedics |
Gastroenterology |
Gynecology |
Other Applications |
Hospitals |
Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
Other End Users |
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the main factor accelerating demand for diagnostic imaging equipment in Chile?
The convergence of an aging population with rising cancer and cardiovascular cases is pushing hospitals to expand imaging capacity and upgrade to advanced, multi-modality systems.
How is artificial intelligence reshaping imaging workflows across Chilean facilities?
AI tools embedded in scanners and cloud platforms shorten exam times, automate triage, and let radiologists interpret studies remotely, which helps offset the country’s specialist shortage.
Why are mobile and handheld imaging devices gaining traction outside Santiago?
Chile’s mountainous geography and dispersed rural communities favor portable units that can travel to remote clinics, mining sites, and island hospitals where fixed suites are impractical.
How do government hospital projects influence equipment purchasing decisions?
Standardized public tenders tied to new hospital builds create bulk orders that reward vendors offering scalable service contracts, cybersecurity compliance, and earthquake-resistant designs.
Page last updated on: June 14, 2025