Market Trends of Saudi Arabia Hospital Supplies Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Saudi Arabia Hospital Supplies Market according to our research experts:
Operating Room Equipment Segment is Expected to Hold a Significant Market Share During the Forecast Period
The public demand for operating rooms, where critically ill patients are treated, is witnessing a steady rise. The survival rate of critically ill patients in the emergency department is directly related to the advancement of early recognition and treatment of diseases and continuous observation by the nurse staff members, doctors, and physicians. Some of the durables in the operating room include utility columns, surgical and exam lights, stretchers and their accessories, cushions, mattresses, sterilizing and cleaning equipment, and surgical tables and accessories.
In Saudi Arabia, despite advancements in safety technology, a high number of road accidents is among the primary reasons for the rising demand for operating rooms or emergency rooms, along with the necessary equipment. According to the Ministry of Health Saudi Arabia Report published in May 2021, the number of accident injuries recorded in 2020 was 25,561. There are a significant number of cases of hemiplegia, paraplegia, and quadriplegia in the country due to road accidents, which require hospital admissions for treatment. In the operating room segment, the country is equipped with hospital supplies from several major companies, such as Arabian Health Care Supply Company (AHCSC), Emitac Healthcare Solutions, and Cardinal Health.
In addition, rising partnerships of medical device companies with the Saudi Arabian government agencies may further lead to increased adoption of general surgical devices in this region, thus driving the market's growth. For instance, in September 2021, the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) signed an industrial land lease contract in Jeddah's Third Industrial City to centralize the Kingdom's medical supply business. The contract aims to set up a project to localize the production of sterile surgical instruments ready for use in operations.
It is expected that better government involvement through funding, initiatives, and collaboration with multinational companies may provide consistent growth in the operating room equipment segment. According to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)'s report, published in April 2021, Saudi Arabia announced plans to invest USD 66 billion in healthcare infrastructure by 2030, with a goal of increasing private sector participation.
The strategic initiatives adopted by key players is expected to fuel the segment's growth. For instance, in March 2021, Careon Healthcare Solutions finalized joint ventures in Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka for surgical, medical disposable products. Such partnerships are projected to increase the availability of hospital supplies in the operating room and contribute to the segment's growth during the forecast period.
Disposable Hospital Supplies Segment is Expected to Hold a Significant Market Share During the Forecast Period
Disposable medical supplies include products that are used to prevent cross-contamination among healthcare caregivers/professionals and patients during diagnosis and treatment procedures.
Increasing surgical procedures, increasing hospital-acquired infections (HAI), and growing public awareness of the value of maintaining hygiene and good health are important drivers of the expansion of the disposable medical supplies market.
As per the study by the International Journal of Innovative Research in Medical Science (IJIRMS) published in June 2022, a total of 1,078 patients were admitted to the hospital ICUs, out of which healthcare-associated infections were reported in 316 patients. Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) was reported in 70 patients. Klebsiella pneumonia (20%) was the predominant isolate, with Serratia (3%) and Providencia (3%) species being the least common isolates. Thus, the increasing cases of HAIs in the country are expected to increase the demand for disposable hospital supplies, which is further expected to boost the growth of the market over the forecast period.
In June 2021, the Federal Ministry of Health received a donation of some medical equipment worth USD 1 million from the Government of Saudi Arabia to further strengthen the fight against COVID-19. Thus, such instances are expected to boost the growth of the segment over the forecast period.
Various strategic initiatives adopted by market players are expected to propel the segment's growth. For instance, in July 2022, UAE-based company ViroMasks announced the availability of its revolutionary ViroMasks product via the Noon eCommerce platform in Saudi Arabia. ViroMasks are made in the United Arab Emirates following ISO quality controls and Swiss technology. In March 2021, CareonHealthcare Solutions finalized joint ventures in Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka for surgical, medical disposable products. Such developments are leading to the high availability of products in the country, which is expected to propel the segment's growth during the forecast period.
