Egypt Mammography Market Assessment, By Product [Digital Systems, 3D Systems, Analog Systems, Others], By Technology [2D Mammography, Breast Tomosynthesis/3D Mammography, CAD Mammography], By Type [Screening Mammography, Diagnostic Mammography], By End-user [Hospitals, Diagnosis Centers, Specialty Clinics, Others], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F
Saudi Arabia augmented reality in healthcare market is projected to witness a CAGR of 27.34% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 55.39 million in 2023 to USD 382.94 million in 2031. The market is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years due to the rapid expansion of the country’s healthcare sector, rising adoption of advanced technologies, increasing demand for patient-centric solutions, and growing investments towards the healthcare industry.
The government of Saudi Arabia has taken the path of progressive investment in some of the most advanced technologies, including augmented reality (AR), to improve the efficiency of the healthcare sector. The government spent USD 36.8 billion in 2022 on the social development and healthcare sector of the country. The integration of AR into healthcare is taking place when the industry is undergoing significant changes. The demand for advanced medical services is increasing due to the expansion of the aging population, rising chronic diseases, and increasing focus on preventive care. Furthermore, AR is also finding applications in the field of healthcare to aid doctors in accurately diagnosing diseases, allowing surgeons to prepare for complex diseases, and providing personalized education to patients, thus improving health outcomes and patient satisfaction.
Additionally, the growth of Saudi Arabia augmented reality in healthcare market is also supported by increased collaborations between healthcare providers, technology companies, and academic institutions. These partnerships are essential for the development and deployment of AR solutions that best fit the requirements of the country’s healthcare sector. Meanwhile, research centers and universities are also playing a crucial role in the market by conducting AR research and development activities to understand this technology's advantages better and train future medical professionals to use these solutions effectively.
Growing Emphasis on Patient-Centric Care Boosts Market Demand
The increasing efforts to ensure the provision of patient-centric care in the country is propelling the Saudi Arabia augmented reality in healthcare market demand. Due to the evolving patient behavior and growing demand for improved patient experience, the healthcare sector of the country is witnessing significant technological transformation. Medical professionals are actively embracing patient-centric models to enhance patient engagement and care outcomes, resulting in the digital transformation of the sector and accelerating the implementation of value-based care. At present, the country's health ministry is working on the SEHA Virtual Hospital (SVH) project to connect doctors with patients with the help of AR and artificial intelligence (AI). The hospital was launched in 2022.
Moreover, innovations in wellness mobile applications via AR and virtual reality (VR) and engaging gamification are also being supported to promote good health practices among patients. Educating and empowering patients and adopting patient-centric technologies are essential for a collaborative ecosystem and supporting the transformation of the healthcare sector.
Increasing Investments Towards Healthcare Sector Supports Market Growth
Under Vision 2030, the country aims to significantly focus on the availability of advanced technologies to improve patient outcomes, access to healthcare facilities, and modernize equipment and facilities. AR is gaining momentum in the country due to the increasing awareness of the various advantages offered by the technology to both patients and medical professionals. AR is also changing how healthcare professionals approach training and patient care, with surgeons across the country deploying AR to visualize patient anatomy in real time, resulting in improved outcomes due to the precise nature of the procedure. These integrations are supported by the rising efforts of the government to make Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system more effective and comprehensive.
Medical Training Accounts for Major Market Share
The increasing adoption of AR in medical training can be attributed to the facilitation of collaboration and remote learning by technology. Due to the rapid expansion of the country’s healthcare sector, the requirement for scalable and flexible medical training solutions is increasing, boosting the Saudi Arabia augmented reality in healthcare market demand. AR platforms also aid in connecting instructors and students from different regions across the country and conduct group training sessions and participate in virtual classrooms, which is essential in countries such as Saudi Arabia where geography hinders traditional teaching and learning.
Besides the development of technical skills, AR is finding its application in enhancing diagnostic capabilities. AR allows medical students to simulate interactions with patients in which they will have to observe symptoms, order various tests, and diagnose based on the visual and audio stimuli provided by the AR. This forms a life-like experience wherein critical thinking and decision-making skills-very useful in-patient care-are developed.
Hospitals and Clinics Hold Significant Market Share
The increasing incorporation of advanced technologies, including AR, in various hospitals across the country is providing lucrative growth opportunities to the market. Various hospitals, including SEHA Virtual Hospital, are using AR alongside direct transmission of surgeries, with the goal of transferring experience and knowledge through an electronic platform and advising surgeons during surgical procedures. The incorporation of AR solutions has resulted in reduced proportions of medical referrals and enhanced the quality of services provided. Furthermore, various hospitals across the country are also leveraging innovative technologies such as AR and live surgery streaming to enhance the surgical expertise provided across different regions, thus reducing the requirement for patient referrals to bigger hospitals. These incorporations are reshaping the healthcare sector, allowing the enhancement of patient experience, and reducing healthcare costs.
Future Market Scenario (2024-2031F)
As per Saudi Arabia augmented reality in healthcare market analysis, the market is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years due to growing awareness about AR technology's various advantages and growing healthcare sector expansion. The integration of AR with other emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence for data-driven insights, machine learning, and enhanced 5G connectivity to facilitate communication across different channels, is expected to boost its adoption in healthcare. When combined, these are expected to aid in real-time data analysis and decision-making, where actionable insights are given to medical professionals, aiding them in decision-making. The combination of these technologies will be a key driver of innovation for AR applications, expanding their applications.
Additionally, the adoption of AR for medical education and training is also expected to rise significantly in the coming years. As highly skilled healthcare professionals are still sought after today, more AR-based training programs are envisioned to provide students and practitioners with hands-on learning. These programs are expected to provide learners with numerous opportunities to practice several complex procedures in a no-risk environment, refine their skills, and amass more confidence before performing on real patients.
Key Players Landscape and Outlook
The rising collaborations between key market players and medical centers and hospitals support the growth of Saudi Arabia augmented reality in healthcare market. In February 2024, GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc. announced that they are going to equip medical centers and hospitals under the Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Services Group with advanced digital solutions to aid clinicians in providing optimized and high-quality care and improving patient outcomes. Such collaborations are expected to provide lucrative growth opportunities to the market and bolster the availability of advanced technologies, such as AR solutions, in the country. AR enhances patient care as it provides various benefits to medical professionals by allowing the merger of virtual images with the real world. This incorporation is also expected to aid in medical training and surgery planning, enhancing the efficiency of medical professionals.