James, a 59-year-old retired teacher from Manchester, had been experiencing persistent lower back pain radiating down his GP suspected was linked to a spinal issue. An MRI was ordered. The wait for the scan on the NHS: 14 weeks. The wait for the results: another 4 weeks. “Nearly five months to get a diagnosis,” James said. “That’s not healthcare — that’s a waiting game.” Through myMedVia, James had an MRI performed in Shanghai within 24 hours of arrival, with results read by a senior radiologist in under 6 hours.
Diagnostic imaging is the gateway to treatment. Yet in many countries, patients wait longer for a scan than for the treatment itself. Here is how China’s diagnostic imaging capacity compares.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
| Country | Average Wait for MRI | Wait for Results | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| China (myMedVia partner hospitals) | Same day – 24 hours | 2–6 hours | Partner hospital data |
| UK (NHS) | 4–14 weeks | 2–4 weeks | NHS England, 2023 Diagnostic Waiting Times |
| Canada | 10–20 weeks | 2–6 weeks | Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2023 |
| France | 4–8 weeks | 1–3 weeks | Haute Autorité de Santé, 2023 |
| UAE | 1–4 weeks | 3–7 days | Dubai Health Authority, 2023 |
CT Scan (Computed Tomography)
| Country | Average Wait for CT | Wait for Results | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| China (myMedVia partner hospitals) | Same day – 12 hours | 1–3 hours | Partner hospital data |
| UK (NHS) | 3–8 weeks | 2–3 weeks | NHS England, 2023 |
| Canada | 6–14 weeks | 2–4 weeks | CIHI, 2023 |
| Russia (public) | 2–6 weeks | 1–3 weeks | Russian Ministry of Health, 2022 |
PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography)
| Country | Average Wait for PET-CT | Wait for Results | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| China (myMedVia partner hospitals) | 24–48 hours | 4–8 hours | Partner hospital data |
| UK (NHS) | 4–8 weeks | 2–4 weeks | NHS England, 2023 |
| US (private insurance) | 3–14 days | 1–3 days | Radiology Business Journal, 2023 |
Why China’s Imaging System Is Faster
China operates one of the highest-density MRI and CT scanner networks in the world. According to OECD data (2023), China has approximately 26 MRI units per million population in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai — comparable to Germany (35) and higher than the UK (8). Combined with extended operating hours (many imaging centers run 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, 6 days a week), the capacity to process scans is significantly higher.
Source: OECD Health Statistics 2023 — Medical technology: CT and MRI units
Same-Day Imaging: How It Works with myMedVia
Step 1 — Pre-arrival scheduling (Day –3 to –1):
Your myMedVia coordinator books your imaging appointment before you arrive. No walk-in waiting. No queue.
Step 2 — Arrival and registration (Day 0, 30 minutes):
You arrive at the imaging center. A bilingual staff member handles registration. Contraindications are checked (metal implants, contrast allergies, claustrophobia).
Step 3 — The scan (Day 0, 15–60 minutes):
MRI: 30–60 minutes depending on body part and sequences. CT: 10–20 minutes. PET-CT: 45–90 minutes including tracer uptake time.
Step 4 — Radiologist reading (Day 0, 1–6 hours):
Images are transmitted to the PACS system. A senior radiologist reads and reports. Urgent findings are flagged within 1 hour.
Step 5 — Results delivery (Day 0–1):
Digital report and CD/DICOM data provided. Results are shared with your referring physician and treatment team.
How Fast Is “Fast Enough”?
For cancer patients, every week of diagnostic delay reduces treatment options. A study in The Lancet Oncology (2021) found that for every 4-week delay in cancer diagnosis, the probability of early-stage detection decreases by approximately 10%. In China, the diagnostic imaging timeline is compressed from months to hours — giving patients more time for treatment and better chances of favorable outcomes.
Source: The Lancet Oncology, 2021, “Impact of diagnostic delays on cancer stage at diagnosis”