Ambulance Stretchers Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

Ambulance Stretchers Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The ambulance stretchers market is expected to register a CAGR of nearly 3.2% over the forecast period.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ambulance stretchers market was minimal. With the surge of COVID-19 cases, globally, healthcare services were diverted toward emergency cases. Thus, this led to an increase in demand for ambulance services for emergency transport of COVID-19 patients. In June 2021, the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare published the guidelines on the operationalization of COVID care services which indicated that a basic life support ambulance should be equipped with the basic equipment and drugs including a stretcher trolley with IV stands for the transfer of COVID-19 suspected and affected patients. The demand for ambulance services during the pandemic ensured the optimum supply of stretchers. Thus, the ambulance stretchers market had significant growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An increase in chronic diseases is considered to be the key factor for the growth of the ambulance stretchers market. The rise in the aging population is associated with a higher chance of developing health disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney diseases, and respiratory diseases, requiring non-emergency and emergency services. Moreover, an increase in road accidents may require immediate attention and ambulance services. According to the World Health Organization article on road traffic injuries published in June 2022, road accidents are the leading cause of injuries for the population aged 5-29 years. Between 20-50 million people suffer from non-fatal injuries, with many incurring a disability as a result of their injury. Developing countries have a high rate of traffic injuries, with a majority of road accidents occurring in low- and middle-income countries. This creates a demand for the ambulance stretchers in these regions, thus adding to the market growth.

Furthermore, COVID-19 has provided the opportunity for companies to capitalize through ambulance services. In August 2021, HTX, Singapore launched a motorised stretcher to aid Singapore Civil Defence Force’s Emergency Medical Services (SCDF EMS) officers to lift the patients onto the ambulance. Moreover, the rise in the number of people with chronic diseases requiring emergency care and innovation in the ambulance with smart technology may drive the growth of the ambulance stretchers market, globally.

The recent development observed in the ambulance market is the introduction of air ambulances. For instance, in May 2021, Blade India, launched Blade Care services, in response to the increasing demand for air ambulances amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The company partnered with MyHealthcare to provide a seamless, medical evacuation and bed-to-bed transfer. Such activities improve the demand for the specially designed stretchers, which can be used in the air ambulances. Thus, it is expected to add to the market growth.

However, the rise in the cost of the air ambulances and the possibility of adverse events associated with adverse events may restrict the growth of the market.

Key Market TrendsTransport Stretchers are Expected to Occupy Major Share of Market over the Forecast Period

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all elective procedures were postponed with prioritizing services for COVID-19 patients. The rising number of COVID-19 patients resulted in a state of emergency needing immediate transfer of patients to hospitals. The rising demand for ambulance services to offer emergency care to patients may have minimal impact on the ambulance stretchers market.

Transport stretchers are the most frequently used ambulance stretchers. Aging is an important factor in the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Due to this, the elderly population is more prone to develop recurring ailments. Therefore, increasing chronic conditions, such as Ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic kidney disease, in geriatric patients may require more care. According to the GLOBOCAN 2020 report, the total number of people in the world affected by cancer in 2020 accounted for around 19,292,789 cases. The number is estimated to rise to 28,887,940 cases by 2040. Also, The United States National Kidney Foundation 2020 has estimated that about 36 million adults in the United States have chronic kidney diseases. ​A report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2020 showed that around 15.7 million Americans are affected by chronic lower respiratory disease. The rising number of people affected by chronic diseases, who require immediate transport for hospital admissions is expected to add to the segment growth.

Moreover, there has been an introduction of new transport ambulances to increase accessibility. In 2021, Ford has announced plans to launch transit ambulances for the United Kingdom under Project Siren. Such activities are expected to add to the transport stretchers market segment.

Therefore, the increasing aging population with growing chronic conditions and the increase in ambulance services are expected to cause a rise in the demand for emergency ambulance services, resulting in a higher market share during the forecast period.

North America is Expected to Hold the Major Share in the Ambulance Stretchers Market

There was a rise in the demand for ambulance stretchers in the North American region during the COVID-19 pandemic. The healthcare services had to be directed toward COVID-19 patient management and treatment development. Guiding committees and regulatory bodies provided guidelines to be followed for patients and physicians. Elective procedures were postponed, and only emergency procedures got high priority. Recovery of these backlog procedures may take place gradually, considering the pandemic and resurgence of the disease.

North America is expected to dominate the ambulance stretchers market over the forecast period, due to the rise in the geriatric population and increasing health expenditure. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in its data published in September 2022, on older adults' health in the United States estimated a rise in the population who are 65 and above to 80.8 million by 2040 and 94.7 million in 2060, representing nearly 25% of the overall population.

Moreover, the rise in the number of people affected by chronic diseases is likely to boost the market growth. For instance, as per the report “The Prevalence of Common Chronic Conditions Seen in Canadian Primary Care” published in May 2021 by the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network, around 65% of the adults in Canada were living with at least one chronic disease condition, and over 37% of the adults had two or more chronic conditions. The higher prevalence of chronic diseases in the country will drive the demand for ambulance stretchers. In addition, favorable reimbursement policies in the United States and Canada covering emergency and non-emergency ambulance services are likely to contribute to the ambulance stretchers market.

Competitive Landscape

The ambulance stretchers market remains moderately competitive, with the presence of regional players. However, with the rise in the number of road accidents and injuries, the market is expected to create opportunities for companies to capitalize. Major players include Stryker Corporation, Hill-Rom Services Inc., Fu Shun Hsing Technology Co. Ltd, Ferno-Washington Inc., Dragon Industry (ZJG) Co. Ltd, Narang Medical Limited, ROYAX, Arjo, and GF Health Products.

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