Abstract
US demand to rise 4.1% annually through 2013
Demand for disposable medical supplies in the US is projected to increase 4.1
percent annually to more than $79 billion in 2013. An increasing volume of
health care activity attributable to aging demographic patterns and a rising
incidence of diseases and disorders will underlie growth. Demand will also
gain upward momentum as hospitals, outpatient facilities and other health care
establishments adopt stricter safeguards to meet infection prevention
standards.
Instruments to remain largest product category
Instruments and devices for respiratory care, drug delivery, catheterization
and related procedures will remain the largest group of disposable medical
supplies, with demand reaching $38.6 billion in 2013. Growth will reflect a
rising base of chronic care patients who require surgery or continuous
therapy. This trend, coupled with the introduction of new higher value-added,
safety-enhanced products, will boost demand for several single-use products,
including oxygen therapy supplies, prefilled syringes, atherectomy and
coronary perfusion catheters, transdermal patches and peritoneal dialysis kits.
Biological, synthetic dressings to pace wound supplies
Demand for wound management supplies will reach $8.7 billion in 2013.
Dressings based on alginate, foam, collagen and growth factor substances will
post the best gains based on expanding applications in the treatment of
moderate-tosevere lacerations. Tissue sealants composed of cyanoacrylates and
bioengineered fibrins will also fare well in the marketplace based on superior
binding traits and fast healing advantages. Demand for bandages will expand at
a below average pace due to limited pricing flexibility and the general lack
of proprietary products. Trends toward less invasive surgery will weaken the
overall market for wound closures.
Class IV drapes, gowns to be fastest growing nonwovens
Class IV surgical drapes and gowns will post the strongest sales gains among
nonwoven medical textiles as surgical infection prevention safeguards are
upgraded by hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. Disposable face masks
will also fare well in the marketplace, benefitting from routine use by
medical providers in virtually all direct contact patient procedures. Enhanced
absorbent, odor neutralized diapers and shields will see the fastest gains in
demand among incontinence products based on comfort and protection advantages.
Home kits, contact lenses to provide opportunities
Among other disposable medical supplies, blood glucose test strips and home
test kits for other diabetes markers, along with daily contact lenses, first
aid kits, biological indicators and laboratory gloves, will command the
strongest growth opportunities. An expanding number of diabetics engaging in
self-testing will boost demand for blood glucose test strips. New
color-tinted, UV-protected and moisture-enhanced brands will expand sales of
daily contact lenses. Trends promoting self-treatment and preventive medicine
will impact favorably on demand for first aid kits. The upgrading of infection
prevention safeguards in hospitals will promote the widening use of biological
indicators in sterilization processes. Lastly, drug discovery activities and
medical research investigations will benefit lab gloves.
Study coverage
This new Freedonia industry study, Disposable Medical Supplies, presents
historical demand data (1998, 2003, 2008) plus forecasts for 2013 and 2018 by
raw material, product and market. The study also considers key market
environment factors, evaluates company market shares and profiles 27 industry
competitors.
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