The ambulatory infusion center market deals in products and services related to outpatient infusion and injection therapy. Ambulatory centers provide infusion treatments to patients suffering from chronic diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, gastrointestinal disorders, and other conditions. These centers offer a convenient alternative to hospital-based infusion units by allowing patients to receive intravenous therapies as outpatients. The major advantages of ambulatory infusion centers include reduced waiting times, flexibility of scheduling, and a comfortable ambulatory care setting. With the rising prevalence of chronic illnesses globally, the demand for infusion therapies administered outside hospitals has increased tremendously.
The Global ambulatory infusion center market is estimated to be valued at US$ 67.84 Bn in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 9.6% over the forecast period of 2024-2031.
Key Takeaways
Key players operating in the ambulatory infusion center are Option Care Health, PharmaScript, Cleveland Clinic, Stoughton Health, Coram CVS, Hattiesburg Clinic, UnitedHealth Group, UK HealthCare, CHI Health, PharMerica, Beacon Health System, Inc., Arnot Health, Inc., IVX Health and Precision Healthcare.
Key opportunities in the market include rising demand for specialty infusion therapies, growing geriatric population prone to chronic diseases, and increasing healthcare expenditure worldwide. Major players are expanding their ambulatory infusion center networks globally to tap opportunities in emerging markets of Asia Pacific and Latin America.
Global expansion is witnessed in the ambulatory infusion center market with key market players partnering with local hospitals and clinics to set up ambulatory centers. They are also pursuing acquisitions to strengthen their international presence and service portfolio. This allows them to serve overseas patients more efficiently and gain access to new geographies.
Market Drivers
Increasing number of outpatient procedures performed is a major driver for the ambulatory infusion center market. More therapies are now administered outside hospitals in ambulatory care settings as it reduces medical costs and offers convenience to patients. As per studies, outpatient cases grew nearly 30% between 2006 to 2016 in the US.
Market Restrain
High setup and operational costs of ambulatory infusion centers pose a major challenge, especially for smaller players. Significant investment is required for equipment, facilities, staffing and certifications. This factor could restrain market growth to some extent over the forecast period.
Segment Analysis
The ambulatory infusion center market is dominated by the oncology segment due to the increasing prevalence of cancer and growing demand for targeted drug delivery. Chemotherapy infusion for cancer treatment requires specialized monitoring and care which can be more effectively provided in ambulatory infusion centers rather than in hospitals. This continues to drive higher growth and investments in oncology day centers and oncology clinics across major markets. The gastroenterology segment is another fast growing segment on account of rising cases of inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These conditions require biologic drugs and intravenous nutrition which can be administered on an outpatient basis in ambulatory infusion centers.
Regional Analysis
The ambulatory infusion center market in North America, especially the United States, is the largest and most advanced market globally. This can be attributed to the well-established healthcare infrastructure and rising preference for outpatient care in the country. Within North America, the growing popularity of ambulatory infusion centers in oncology, gastroenterology and rheumatology is driving higher investments and expansions in key regions. The Asia Pacific region is poised to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period due to growing healthcare expenditure, increasing medical tourism and rising incidence of chronic and lifestyle diseases. Countries like China, India and Japan are emerging as major markets and increasingly adopting ambulatory infusion models of care.
