Ambulatory infusion centers provide infusion therapy to patients suffering from chronic conditions as an alternative to hospital-based treatments. Ambulatory infusion therapies are generally cheaper than inpatient therapies and provide convenience to patients by allowing them to receive treatment as outpatients while carrying on with their daily activities. This market is driven by rising prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, infections, gastrointestinal disorders which require long term infusion therapies. Furthermore, key advantage of ambulatory infusion centers is that they help reduce hospital stay of patients and lower healthcare costs by providing therapies similar to hospitals in an outpatient setting. 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 2024 to 2031, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.

Market Opportunity:
The major opportunity for the ambulatory infusion center market lies in the expansion of home healthcare services. As healthcare costs continue to rise, hospitals are increasingly collaborating with ambulatory infusion centers to transfer routine outpatient infusion services to home care settings. This helps provide infusion treatments to patients in the comfort of their own homes, improve accessibility to therapy and reduce travel costs. With growing preference for home healthcare among patients, especially amidst the pandemic, ambulatory infusion centers can capitalize on this opportunity by partnering with hospitals and clinics to offer infusion services via mobile nursing teams that visit patients at home. This significantly lowers financial and time barriers for patients receiving long-term infusion treatments, driving higher demand for ambulatory infusion centers in the coming years.

Porter's Analysis
Threat of new entrants: The ambulatory infusion center market requires significant capital investments which poses a moderate threat of new entrants. However, established market players and brand recognition poses barriers.

Bargaining power of buyers: The bargaining power of buyers is high given the availability of alternatives for outpatient infusion therapies. This empowers buyers to demand value-added services and competitive pricing.

Bargaining power of suppliers: Medical device manufacturers and drug suppliers possess moderate bargaining power due to the specialized nature of products and services required in infusion centers.

Threat of new substitutes: The threat of new substitutes is low as ambulatory infusion centers provide convenience and alternatives are limited. However, telehealth and home infusion services pose a potential threat.

Competitive rivalry: The market comprises large network centers and regional players leading to high competitive rivalry.

SWOT Analysis

Strengths: Convenience of services, specialized staff, and one-stop access to therapies.

Weaknesses: High setup and operational costs, regulatory compliance issues, reliance on insurance approvals.

Opportunities: Growing geriatric population, rising incidence of chronic diseases, and partnerships between hospitals and centers.

Threats: Reimbursement cuts, price controls, and the shift towards low-cost outpatient and home-based services.

Key Takeaways

The global ambulatory infusion center market is expected to witness high growth over the forecast period supported by the growing prevalence of chronic diseases. The market size for 2024 is estimated to be US$67.84 billion.

Regional analysis: North America dominates the global market currently due to favorable reimbursement policies and presence of major market players. The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period with increasing healthcare expenditure and economic growth in countries such as China and India.

Key players operating in the ambulatory infusion center market are Optum,Inc., CVS Health, Option Care Health, HCA Healthcare, PharMerica, and Coram CVS.