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Excessive Investment in Imaging Equipment Poses Economic and Environmental Concerns in Japan

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

New research highlights the scale and regional disparities in inefficient investment in expensive and energy-intensive imaging equipment, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, in Japan. The study discovered that more than 80% of prefectures operated CT and MRI scanners inefficiently in 2020, leading to substantial financial losses and an estimated 3 Mt-CO of additional emissions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that in 2020, over 80% of prefectures in Japan operated CT and MRI scanners inefficiently, with an average national efficiency decline of approximately 5% over a seven-year period.
  • Approximately 60% of prefectures experienced deteriorating efficiency, leading to substantial financial losses and an estimated 3 Mt-CO of additional emissions.
  • The study recommends that policymakers prioritize strategies to enhance the utilization of existing equipment, such as encouraging medical tourism and promoting the shared use of imaging devices, rather than expanding device inventories.
  • The research used an analytical framework that integrates Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with the Malmquist decomposition analysis to evaluate the operational efficiency of CT and MRI scanners across 47 prefectures in Japan between 2014 and 2020.
  • The study estimated that potential reductions in capital investment, energy consumption, and life-cycle CO emissions achievable through improved efficiency range from 15% to 25%.

Statistics:

  • Over 80% of prefectures in Japan operated CT and MRI scanners inefficiently in 2020.
  • The average national efficiency decline for CT and MRI scanners was approximately 5% over a seven-year period.
  • Approximately 60% of prefectures experienced deteriorating efficiency, leading to substantial financial losses.
  • The estimated 3 Mt-CO of additional emissions from inefficient imaging equipment is comparable to the annual emissions from Japan's passenger shipping sector.

Sources:

  • Significant CO2 emission reduction potential in the healthcare sector: Evidence from Japan. Journal of Environmental Management, 2025;391:126372.
  • Kyushu University Reports Findings in Investment (Significant CO2 emission reduction potential in the healthcare sector: Evidence from Japan). Global Warming Focus. July 14, 2025; p 472.

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