Hi Zachstar, I do work in the medical field as a Clinical Engineer. I take all equipment with a grain of salt at first. Medical technology has come great bounds in the last few decades and the gains come with increased costs, but generally better health care. Some parts can be astronomical in price such as proprietary x-ray tubes for CT scanners running to $250,000 each. And simple parts like an o-ring or screw running from $3.00 to $6.00 each. Some companies like Philips, will charge $35.00 per line item, on an order for overnight shipping. Some of this is justified, but much of the cost is compensation for high overhead due to insurance premiums, and the current trend of making service a profit center. Labor rates for GE, Philips, and Toshiba radiology service are about $300.00 an hour whether you get a great experienced pro, or a new tech who spends all his time on the phone to his service center while charging $300.00 an hour. GE sold vital signs monitors that had plastic housings that would crack from the disinfectant wipe downs. Could you buy the broken piece? No, you had to buy the plastics package containing all the plastic parts in the whole machine, even though it was the handle on top that always cracked.
So, will these robots make medicine cheaper? I have many doubts.
Buddahaid
|