China becomes emerging market for orthopaedic instruments

BEIJING - China has become an emerging market for orthopaedic apparatus, with nearly 40 million arthrosis patients nationwide, said leading orthopaedists at the 7th International Congress of Chinese Orthopaedic Association (COA) on Friday.

Wang Yan, president of the COA and the founding chairman of the World Orthopaedic Alliance (WOA), added that the number of prophetic joints being replaced in China each year is expected to increase at a rate of 25 percent.

David Dvorak, chairman of the US Advanced Medical Technology Association, said at the conference that China faces great demand in the treatment of muscle and bone diseases, and it is set to rise significantly with an aging population.

According to statistics provided by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), China has 69.4 million osteoporosis patients above the age of 50, causing 687,000 cases of fractures each year.

The IOF estimates that the syndrome incur medical fees of more than $12.5 billion in 2020 in China, where the sum may grow 20-fold by 2050.

Advanced orthopaedic instruments in China are mainly imported from foreign countries, a practice which is relatively expensive and means some patients are unable to afford them, according to Wang.

"We will learn about advanced medical technology from foreign counterparts to promote self research and development as well as strengthen training for doctors, in order to meet the needs for more patients," he said.

According to the COA congress, the Ministry of Health has regulated the clinical application of artificial hip joints and knee joints to help improve the country's medical service in orthopaedics.

The WOA was established in Beijing on Thursday in a bid to pool global resources and improve developing nations' capacities to fight orthopaedic challenges, with about 70 countries and regions set to support and participate in the non-profit organization.