Disposable medical supplies demand to reach $48b.

U.S. demand for disposable medical supplies will increase 6.2% annually (including price increases) to $48 billion in 2002. Angioplasty catheters and accessories, DNA-based cancer test kits and multifocal contact lenses will provide the strongest growth opportunities, according to a new study from The Freedonia Group.

Portable IV sets, adult diapers and ambulatory dialysis kits will also fare well in the marketplace due to incentives promoting home care. Hospitals will remain the largest customer group, despite faster growth in the home health customer group, based upon the greater complexity of inpatient procedures and the need for stricter institutional infection control standards, according to the study entitled U.S. Disposable Medical Supplies.

Convenience, labor saving and performance benefits will push the demand for disposable kits and trays, currently the largest segment, up 6.4% annually to $11.2 billion in 2002. Reflecting significant contributions to health care cost efficiencies, home HIV and cholesterol test kits, ambulatory peritoneal dialysis kits, custom open heart surgical kits and DNA-based in vitro diagnostic tests will provide the best growth prospects. Multiple source availability, fierce pricing competition and changing patient care approaches will moderate opportunities for most other medical kits and trays.

Prefilled syringes for emergency care, portable IV sets for home ambulatory infusion, prefilled nebulizers for self-respiratory treatment and transdermal patches for smoking cessation will provide the greatest opportunities within the infusion and related administration supplies group. Trends toward minimally invasive surgery will weaken the market for surgical sutures and staples. New products with enhanced cost-effectiveness and performance properties will broaden growth prospects for disposable contact lenses, radiopharmaceuticals and ultrasonic contrast agents.

Hospitals will remain the largest market for disposable medical supplies as inpatient facilities continue to deliver the most diverse range of patient procedures. However, patient care strategies favoring alternative site care will result in all other markets growing fasten The home health care segment will expand at a particularly strong pace based upon the increasing availability of new consumer testing and drug delivery products.