Medical carts are movable storage units and shelves used primarily in hospitals and healthcare facilities to carry and store medical supplies, equipment, and documents at the point of care. They provide easy access to clinicians and assist patients during rounds, examinations, medication administration, and emergency responses. With growing focus on patient-centered care, medical carts allow convenient delivery of services directly at the bedside, improving quality of care. They are designed with features such as locking storage drawers and shelves, power outlets, medical gas connections, and computer docks as per requirement. Popular cart types include emergency carts, procedures carts, medication carts, and transport/mobile workstations.
The global medical carts market is estimated to be valued at US$ 3,479.2 Mn in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 9.9% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.
Market Dynamics
Rising need for mobility in healthcare facilities is estimated to drive the growth of the medical carts market over the forecast period. Growing emphasis on patient-centered care is encouraging healthcare providers to shift services from centralized stations to patients’ bedsides in order to minimize infection risks and allow quicker recovery through enhanced convenience. Similarly, medical carts facilitate seamless delivery of time-sensitive emergency services and medications across departments, reducing delays in treatment. Along with facilitating care processes, carts aimed at specific applications such as emergency procedures or medication administration are designed to meet their custom needs through optimized features. These benefits are Estimated to further bolster demand over the coming years.
SWOT Analysis
Strength: Medical carts provide mobility and facilitate convenient storage and transportation of medical supplies and equipment near patients without requiring transport between different locations in hospitals or other medical facilities. They help improve workflow efficiency as doctors and nurses can easily access necessary items at the point of care. Customizable designs also allow configuration of carts as per specific requirements of different medical departments.
Weakness: Frequent movement of medical carts during patient rounds or between hospital floors can increase the risk of accidents and tipping over if overloaded or transported on uneven surfaces. Higher initial costs compared to traditional static storage methods can also be a potential barrier for some cash-strapped hospitals.
Opportunity: Growing trend of mobile health and emphasis on patient-centric care is driving demand for multi-functional medical carts that support telemedicine and bring supplies, monitors directly to patients. Rising number of hospitals and healthcare infrastructural investments in developing countries present an opportunity to meet their growing needs.
Threats: Introduction of newer and innovative products by competitors can affect market share of established brands. Strict regulatory guidelines and certification requirements for medical devices also increase compliance costs for manufacturers.
Key Takeaways
The global Medical Carts market is expected to witness high growth over the forecast period of 2023 to 2030. The global medical carts market is estimated to be valued at US$ 3,479.2 Mn in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 9.9% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030.
Regional analysis indicates that North America currently dominates the market owing to rising healthcare expenditure and presence of major market players in countries like the US. However, Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest pace due to ongoing healthcare infrastructure development programs and expansion of private healthcare facilities in China, India and other Asian countries.
Key players operating in the medical carts market are AFC Industries, Advantech Co., Ltd., Alphatron, Enovate Medical, Ergotron, Inc., Harloff Manufacturing Co., JACO, Inc., Medline Industries, Inc. AFC Industries is one of the leading suppliers of medical carts in the North American region while Advantech Co. Ltd. specializes in semi-sealed and sealed cart designs meeting stringent hospital hygiene standards.