Patient Beds

According to a January 2011 market report by Global Industry Analysts (GIA), the worldwide hospital bed market will reach $3.8 billion within four years.

Key motivators of this growth include “an aging global population, rising incidence of age and lifestyle related diseases and growing complexity of medical conditions,” according to the study.

Growth in developing countries and increasing construction and expansion of hospitals and health centers are regarded as determining factors in this projected growth. Naturally, as physical facilities are upgraded, additional space will be devoted to patient beds.

This growth is anticipated especially as a correction to the 2009 trend of private-sector hospital closings, says GIA, a circumstance that limited the availability of hospital beds and delayed capital equipment purchases. A November 2009 report by BizAcumen said that the limited availability of funds has led many bed customers to rent rather than purchase beds outright. Money, or the lack of it, may remain a key driver of competition among leading OEMs in this sector as well as among aftermarket patient bed vendors.

“Reacting to increasing pressure from customers, bed manufacturers have been trying hard to bring down the operating costs with the motive of bringing down the total costs,” the report said.

Another factor driving growth in the patient bed sector is demand in the long-term, assisted living and home care service sectors. Rehabilitative care, including that of patients undergoing bariatric and pressure-wound surgeries, those in psychological and addictions treatment programs, and of pediatric patients, has also led to the emergence of technologically specialized beds to deal with specific populations.

Read more in September's issue of Medical Dealer Magazine.