US demand for disposable medical supplies will grow 4.9 percent annually to $70.4 billion in 2011. A rising volume of patient activity attributable to aging population trends and related epidemiological patterns will underlie overall growth.

Disposable drug delivery, catheterization products to remain largest group

Drug delivery, catheterization and related products will remain the largest and fastest growing group of disposable medical supplies. Gains will reflect an increasing number of chronic care patients who require surgery or continuous therapy. This trend, coupled with the introduction of higher value-added, safety-enhanced products, will boost growth opportunities for several types of drug delivery, catheterization and related supplies, including prefilled inhalers; prefilled syringes; cardiac and urinary catheters; infusion and dialysis tubing sets; transdermal patches; and oxygen delivery systems.

Among disposable wound management supplies, prefilled staplers; bioengineered tissue adhesives and sealants; collagen, foam and alginate dressings; and growth factor healing agents will see the fastest growth. By contrast, limited pricing flexibility and similarities among major brands will moderate gains in the market for most types of bandages. Advances in staples and sealants will slow growth in overall demand for surgical sutures. Class IV surgical drapes and gowns will see the best sales gains among nonwoven medical disposables as surgical infection prevention safeguards are upgraded by hospitals and ambulatory surgery centres. Disposable face masks will also fare well in the marketplace, as will examination and surgical gloves; personal, surface and instrument disinfectants; and infectious waste disposal products. The increasing complexity of medical research investigation will impact favourably on the market for disposable labware. New high value-added silicone hydrogel, aspheric and toric configurations will promote broader sales of daily and other short-wear disposable contact lenses.

Home health care market to provide fastest growth

Based on the breadth and intensity of medical activities and extensive infection prevention requirements, hospitals will remain the largest and most diverse market for disposable medical supplies, accounting for more than 43 percent of 2011 demand. These facilities will continue to lead sales in most product segments. However, due to the impact of fixed reimbursement rates and group purchasing practices, hospitals will provide below-average growth opportunities for disposable medical supplies as a whole.

Home health care will continue to comprise the fastest growing market for disposable medical supplies. Demand will be boosted by the increasing availability of respiratory and other medication in high value-added delivery devices, the expansion of blood glucose monitoring activity among diabetic patients, widening third-party coverage for home therapy services, and the sustained popularity of short-term use contact lenses.

Outpatient facilities, nursing homes and physicians’ offices will present below- average growth opportunities for disposable medical supplies due to cost containment trends and the commodity, price sensitive nature of most items used. By contrast, demand in dental practices, paramedic organizations and other markets will advance at a faster than average pace, reflecting less intensive pricing pressures and needs for higher value-added supplies and devices.

This comprehensive study examines the US market for disposable medical supplies. Disposable medical supplies are defined as single and short-term use products that serve various health care functions, including surgery, non-surgical therapy, diabetes testing, general patient and staff support, and medical research. 

Unless otherwise indicated, all statistics and forecasts represent demand for disposable medical supplies stated in current US dollars. The term “demand” is equivalent to “value of consumption” or “manufacturers’ sales” and correlates to the value of domestic production plus imports minus exports. Historical data (1996, 2001, 2006) and forecasts to 2011 and 2016 are provided for disposable medical supplies by type and market (hospitals, home health care, outpatient facilities, clinical and medical research laboratories, physicians’ offices, nursing homes, dental practices and other health care providers such as paramedic organizations and public first aid stations). Consumption patterns and projections for disposable medical supply raw materials (plastics; chemicals and biochemicals; nonwovens, paper and paperboard; rubber; and other) are also included in this study.