Improving universal health coverage is a big challenge in many nations. Nevertheless, in countries like Brazil, the Constitution provides for universal access to meet population needs. Medical equipment is indispensable for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in public and private health services. This study aims to analyze medical diagnostic equipment incorporation in a Brazilian state.

This evaluative research was carried out using data from Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS) and Private Health Services. The research took place in Ceará, Northeastern Brazil. It is the eighth most populous Brazilian state, with 8.8 million inhabitants. Data on the types and quantity of medical devices in the public and private services were collected from August 2005 to August 2017. The results were analyzed by comparing population and normative parameters with technology incorporation in Brazil.

A mean of 17.6 +/− 10.6 (SD) devices were incorporated each year in SUS versus 31.7 +/− 15.7 (SD) in the private services. Over a twelve year period, the incorporation of equipment increased 59.7 percent in the public system and 152.6 percent in the private services. The production from these technologies increased to 18.1 percent. Considering both public and private services, tomography equipment coverage exceeds (147.4 percent) the parameter established by the Ministry of Health while magnetic resonance imaging equipment coverage is 90.5 percent.

An expressive number of medical devices were incorporated in public and private health services, with higher rates in the latter. Both services presented a downward trend, suggesting that the incorporation of equipment is no longer needed. Such an extra coverage reveals an uncritical incorporation of these devices, that was not based on real needs; therefore, it is necessary to develop an action plan aimed at a better distribution of these devices to allow effective universal coverage.