EHR/EMR Market Growth Slows in Western China Amid Infrastructure Gaps

Despite national growth, several western provinces in China are lagging in EHR/EMR adoption due to connectivity and infrastructure constraints.

Regions like Tibet, Xinjiang, and parts of Gansu face significant challenges in deploying robust health IT systems. The lack of reliable internet bandwidth, recurring power issues, and scarcity of trained IT personnel mean many clinics still operate with partial or paper-based records. Addressing these constraints requires targeted investment in physical infrastructure and training.

Provincial governments are now collaborating with central authorities to improve digital health readiness. Pilot programs are underway to equip rural clinics with satellite or wireless broadband, and mobile EHR units are being tested to serve remote populations. But progress is incremental; cost per facility remains high, and long-term sustainability depends on ongoing support.

Meanwhile, hospital systems in more connected regions continue to push ahead, widening the gap in data consistency and health outcomes. Consultants stress the importance of deploying flexible, low-resource EMR/EHR models in these regions to avoid leaving them behind. The MRFR forecast accounts for such regional disparities in its valuations and growth projections.

Tags: regional gaps, infrastructure, rural health China, digital divide, EHR EMR adoption