Category: Medical

The global vascular access devices market, valued at USD 5.60 billion in 2023, is forecasted to grow at a robust CAGR of 7.1%, reaching USD 5.99 billion in 2024 and an impressive USD 9.05 billion by 2030. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as cancer and chronic kidney diseases, drives market growth. Additionally, increased government support for the construction of healthcare infrastructure and technological advancements are expected to impact market growth. The increasing number of hospitals globally also poses an opportunistic factor for market growth.

Based on type, the vascular access device market is divided into central venous access device, peripheral vascular access device, intraosseous vascular access device, and accessories. Among these, in 2023, the central venous access device segment accounted for the highest market share in the vascular access device market. This is owing to increasing incidence of cancer cases and chronic diseases such as chronic kidney diseases. Additionally, increasing chemotherapy procedure fuels the market growth for vascular access devices. Central venous access devices are further divided into peripherally inserted central catheters, tunnelled catheters, non-tunnelled catheters, and implantable ports. Among these, the peripherally inserted central catheter to hold the largest market share in 2023. As peripherally inserted central catheters are less likely to pose any complications after the insertion of the device, thus majority of the times in developed regions these devices are preferred over other central venous access devices. As the prevalence of chronic diseases increases the need of central line is rising for long-term therapy, thus increasing the demand for central venous access devices across the globe. Among these, tunnelled catheters to grow at the fastest rate during forecast period. This is due to increasing prevalence of chronic kidney diseases. During haemodialysis procedure these tunnelled catheters are preferred as these are associated with less complications and can be there in the body for 3 to 6 months.

Based on route of insertion, the vascular access device market is segmented into intravenous route of insertion, subcutaneous route of insertion, and intraosseous route of insertion. Among these, the intravenous route of insertion segment accounts for the largest share of the vascular access device market in 2023. As majority of the vascular access devices such as peripherally inserted central venous catheters, tunneled catheter, non-tunneled catheters, peripheral intravenous catheter, midline catheters, winged or butterfly needles are inserted via intravenous route. As the usage of these devices is increasing due to rising prevalence of lifestyle diseases, thus contributing to the market growth. Additionally, for subcutaneous and intraosseous route of insertion the specific healthcare professionals are required for the insertion of the devices. Thus, majority of the healthcare professionals prefer the intravenous route of insertion for various applications. The subcutaneous segment to hold the second largest position, owing to increasing incidence of cancer cases across the globe.

By region, the vascular access device market is divided into 5 main regions, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Among these regions, in 2023, the North American region holds the largest market share in the vascular access device market, owing to increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as chronic kidney diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and among others. For instance, as per National Cancer Institute, there will be 2,001,140 new cancer cases in 2024 in US. Additionally, the center for disease control and prevention stated in 2023, that more than 1 in 7 adults, (approximately 35.5 million people) are estimated to have one chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Furthermore, they stated in February 2024 that 129 million American suffer at least one major chronic disease. As these diseases require generally long-term hospitalizations, which includes intravenous medication administration, thus driving the market growth. The North American vascular access device market is divided into US, and Canada. Among these, US holds the largest market share in 2023, owing to the presence of key manufacturing players in the region is supporting the market growth. As these companies are heavily investing for research and development thus contributing to the market growth in US. Additionally in Canada the growth of the vascular access device market is due to increasing clinical trials conducted in this region. For instance, in August 2024 the phase 3 clinical trial on intranasal fentanyl in preterm infants undergoing peripherally inserted central catheter placed got completed at Mount Sinai Hospital in Canada. As the number of clinical trials increases, the demand for these devices is also rising, supporting market growth in the region. The Asia Pacific region accounted for a significant share of the global vascular access device market in 2023 and is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by an increasing aging population and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases. The Asia Pacific region includes Japan, China, India, Australia, South Korea, and the rest of the region. Among these, China held the largest share of the Asia Pacific vascular access device market in 2023, attributed to the country’s rapidly aging population and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases. For instance, in 2022, there were 280.04 million people aged 60 and above, with chronic diseases affecting 66.3% of older adults, including conditions like cardiovascular diseases and cancers. This growing healthcare demand is necessitating efficient vascular access devices for long-term therapies further increasing demand for vascular access devices. Additionally, the rising cancer cases and upsurging number of hospitals are contributing to the regional growth. For instance, in 2022, China recorded for 4,824,700 new cancer cases and 2,574,200 cancer-related deaths highlighting the need for intravenous treatments. Furthermore, as per CEIC data, number of hospitals in China increased to 38,4000 in 2023 up from 36,976 in 2022. Thus, increasing the demand for vascular access device continues to grow. Furthermore, India accounts for second largest share in Asia Pacific vascular access device market, owing to increasing healthcare expenditure. MarketsandMarkets

Last Thursday, New Haven joined 44 other cities and local officials in filing a legal brief against recent federal cuts to research funding.

The cities filed an amicus brief in support of lawsuits filed by 22 states and associations of medical schools, hospitals and universities against recent cuts to federal research funding. On Feb. 7, the National Institutes of Health announced that scientific and medical institutions would be losing significant amounts of federal research funding.

Like many of the other cities included in the brief, New Haven is home to universities and hospitals that employ thousands of researchers whose work and jobs depend on federal dollars. The brief explained how these cuts would negatively affect cities across the country.

“New Haven is one the nation’s leading hubs for medical and scientific research. From bioscience to life science to quantum, these industries represent thousands of local jobs and millions of dollars to our local economy,” Mayor Justin Elicker said in a press release. “But, more importantly, this funding is supporting cutting-edge, lifesaving work that is identifying new medical treatments, curing chronic diseases, and advancing scientific discoveries that improve the everyday lives and wellbeing of our residents.”

The NIH’s Feb. 7 decision caps reimbursements for indirect costs, such as lab maintenance, equipment and administrative support, at 15 percent, a significant reduction from Yale’s previous reimbursement rate of 69.7 percent. This decision “would have severe and long-term impacts on our jurisdictions,” the amicus brief reads.

In many of the cities that joined the amicus brief, the research institutions most likely to be harmed are “at the center of bigger biotech and science-based economic hubs,” meaning that the loss of funds could cause cities’ economic systems “to degrade.”

Yale submitted “a declaration of support” for the brief explaining that research at Yale and other Connecticut institutions benefits patients in New Haven and across the state and generates jobs benefiting the local and state economy.

The brief argues that the NIH’s decision to cut funding is “arbitrary and capricious,” explaining that the NIH failed to consider the “substantial reliance interests” of universities, hospitals and other recipients of indirect cost funding.

The NIH’s cuts to reimbursement rates were temporarily blocked nationwide by a federal court after 22 states filed a lawsuit against the policy change.

The mayors’ Thursday brief advocated that the temporary restraining order against the Trump administration “be extended in duration and given nationwide effect.” On Friday, Judge Angel Kelley of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts extended the order until she decides on a more permanent ruling.

“We join with cities across the country — in red states, purple states and blue states — to stop this illegal action that will cause layoffs, lab closures and undermine scientific progress in American cities,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu — whose jurisdiction spearheaded the brief.

The amicus brief was led by the City of Boston, Massachusetts; the City of Cleveland, Ohio; the Mayor of Gainesville, Florida; the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee; and the Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah. Yale Daily News

Postpandemic hospital occupancy is higher than prepandemic and is expected to continue increasing without changes in the hospitalization rate or staffed hospital bed supply, according to a research letter published online Feb. 19 in JAMA Network Open.

Richard K. Leuchter, M.D., from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in Los Angeles, and colleagues repurposed the Covid-19 dashboard to describe several possible US hospital bed occupancy scenarios arising from an aging population over the next decade.

The researchers found that the mean US hospital occupancy was 63.9 percent from 2009 to 2019 compared with 75.3 percent in May 2023 to April 2024, the year following the end of the Covid-19 public health emergency (PHE). There was a decline seen in the number of staffed hospital beds, from a prepandemic steady state of 802,000 to a post-PHE steady state of 674,000; the mean daily census steady state remained at about 510,000. Substantial state-to-state variation was seen in the post-PHE hospital occupancy steady state. With the aging population, total annual hospitalizations were projected to increase from 36,174,000 in 2025 to 40,177,000 in 2035 without changes in the hospitalization rate or staffed hospital bed supply, corresponding to a national hospital occupancy of about 85 percent by 2032 and by 2035 for adult beds and adult and pediatric beds combined, respectively.

“Experts in developed countries have posited that a national hospital occupancy of 85 percent constitutes a hospital bed shortage (a conservative estimate); our findings show that the US could reach this dangerous threshold as soon as 2032, with some states at much higher risk than others,” the authors write.

One author serves on the board of directors of M3 Inc. HealthDay

Korea University Medical Center has partnered with Royal Philips for joint research and development of AI-driven solutions assisting neurological and cardiovascular disorder diagnosis.

The five-year collaboration involves setting up a smart healthcare system, powered by big data and AI, to detect brain and heart disease early and to personalise treatments.

“The combination of our medical science research capabilities and Philips’ global technology network will significantly accelerate the development of [personalised] diagnostic solutions,” commented Park Hong-Seok, professor and head of KUMC’s Medical Intelligence Information Center. Healthcare IT News

After surviving a bankruptcy saga, a Florida hospital will be shut down and demolished by its new owner.

Orlando Health, a Central Florida hospital network, spent millions last year to buy three Florida Space Coast hospitals owned by Steward Health Care System. Steward, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May, put all of its hospitals in Florida and elsewhere up for sale to thin debt.

Steward’s five South Florida hospitals were handed over to other operators.

Besides helping Steward make money to pay off debt, the sales were meant to keep hospitals open.

Now, just months later, Orlando Health says it has decided to close Rockledge Hospital in Brevard County and its four outpatient centers by April 22 after determining Rockledge was too costly as a fixer-upper and “does not meet our standards for patient care environments.”

Rockledge made national news for a bat infestation that was eventually resolved during Steward’s bankruptcy process.

“Prior to acquiring Rockledge Hospital, the healthcare system was aware that years of neglect had left the facility in such poor condition that it did not meet the system’s standards for patient care environments. … Following in-depth inspections that could only occur after acquisition, it was determined that the cost to repair and renovate Rockledge Hospital far exceeds the cost of a new, state-of-the-art hospital,” Orlando Health said in a statement.

Orlando Health, which also purchased Steward’s Melbourne Hospital and Sebastian River Hospital, said it agreed to take over Rockledge as part of its deal with Steward “to avoid the facility’s immediate closure during Steward’s bankruptcy.”

The private not-for-profit hospital system said Rockledge is “profitable” and that the closure decision is “necessary to ensure the safety of patients and team members.”

Lance Skelly, system director for public and media relations at Health First, Brevard’s largest healthcare company, told the Florida Today news site that the hospital’s announcement about the shutdown “comes as neither a shock nor surprise, as we — like the community — have long understood the physical challenges present within the facility, making it difficult to provide safe and accessible care to patients. We are examining all options to minimize impacts to our patients and community.”

The 298-bed hospital’s closing — and the void it will leave in the community, where the nearest hospital will be about 10 miles away — is a real-life example of the fear that gripped many in South Florida last year while Steward was trying to find new operators for its hospitals in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Steward’s South Florida hospitals — Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, Coral Gables Hospital, Hialeah Hospital, North Shore Medical Center in North Miami-Dade and Florida Medical Center in Lauderdale Lakes — are now under the operation of Healthcare Systems of America, known as HSA. The company says it has no plans to close any of the South Florida hospitals.

Doctors and nurses still worry. At Palmetto General, doctors and nurses who grappled with supply issues, delayed paychecks and service cuts under Steward, say things are not improving under HSA.

Recently, several doctors and nurses took their concerns to Hialeah’s elected city leaders to ask for help in improving the situation at the hospital, including fears that the maternity ward could close. Miami Herald

Researchers in China have discovered a new bat coronavirus similar to the one that led to the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, a study said.

According to the South China Morning Post, the new virus is referred to as HKU5-CoV-2 and was unearthed by a team of researchers, led by Shi Zhengli, the virologist popular as the “batwoman” for her extensive research on coronaviruses.

While it carries the risk of animal-to-human transmission, the virus has not been identified in a living person, the study published in the journal Cell stated.

The study was carried out at the Guangzhou Laboratory by researchers belonging to Guangzhou Academy of Sciences, Wuhan University as well as the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Shi is known for her work at the Wuhan Institute which was earlier at the centre of the controversy regarding the origins of Covid-19. The new virus uses the same human receptor as SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus strain that caused Covid-19.

What is HKU5-CoV-2?
HKU5-CoV-2 belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus which also includes a virus which causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

During their study, the researchers found that it can bind to human angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2), closely associating it with SARS-CoV-2 and NL63.

The team did a lab test to confirm that it is capable of infecting human cells and artificially grown masses of cells or tissue resembling miniaturised organs.

“We report the discovery and isolation of a distinct lineage (lineage 2) of HKU5-CoV, which can utilise not only bat ACE2 but also human ACE2 and various mammalian ACE2 orthologs (– genes found in different species with a common origin),” read the study.

It added that bat merbecoviruses, phylogenetically related to MERS-CoV, post major spillover risk to humans both via direct transmission or facilitated by intermediate hosts.

As of now, its potential to spill over into humans is being ‘investigated’.

Moreover, they have suggested that HKU5-CoV-2 holds better adaptation to human ACE2 compared to lineage 1 HKU5-CoV, as indicated through the structural and functional analyses.

Another pandemic?
The study mentions that the new virus has less binding affinity to human ACE2 compared to SARS-CoV-2. Also, other suboptimal factors for human adaptation have suggested the “risk of emergence in human populations should not be exaggerated”.

Recently, a team of researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle along with Wuhan University said that they couldn’t detect “efficient” human binding in the HKU5 strain. CNBCTV18

There is a need for a liberal visa policy for overseas patients coming to hospitals in India in order to encourage the medical tourism sector, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Joint Managing Director Sangita Reddy said on Friday.

The healthcare major intends to work closely with the government’s ‘Heal in India’ initiative to encourage the inflow of patients into the country, she stated.

“So our idea is to work with the government of India and really evolve this plan called Heal in India. We need enhanced E visas,” Reddy told reporters here.

Some of the neighbouring countries like Thailand, Turkey, Philippines, and Singapore, which get a large number of patients, have visas on arrival, and they have a visa facility for many countries, she added.

“We are requesting the government to enhance the ease of patients coming in, to speed in, and make the medical tourism visas faster, to promote the concept, because India has high-quality healthcare at one-tenth of global prices,” Reddy said.

Elaborating further, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Executive Vice Chairperson Preetha Reddy said that the government is now looking at medical tourism very seriously.

“We need to make the visa process better. We need to make the landing experience better. Now we have fabulous airports in a lot of cities, so that’s kind of done,” she noted.

Asked about future growth plans, she noted that the healthcare provider is collaborating with multiple entities across multiple fields.

“So in the digital space, yes, in the learning space, yes, and definitely in the hospital space, you know, you will see more collaborations and lot of scientific collaborations,” Reddy said.

The company is working with the IITs and other institutions to incubate innovations., she said.

“So I think collaboration now is the only way ahead for healthcare providers, and we’re doing it in multiple formats,” she said.

Reddy noted that Apollo Hospitals has already announced to add around 3,000 beds across its hospital network over the next five years.

The healthcare has announced plans to invest close to Rs 6,000 crore for the expansion. PTI

The global disposable syringes market is poised for significant growth, with projections indicating a rise from approximately USD 8.82 billion in 2024 to over USD 17 billion by 2035, reflecting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.1%. This expansion is driven by factors such as the increasing adoption of injectable medications, heightened demand for sustainable and eco-friendly disposable solutions, and technological advancements in syringe design.

A medical equipment that is thrown away after only one usage is a disposable syringe. These devices are hollow-inside cylinders that are powered by pistons. Patients’ blood samples are drawn using disposable syringes. They don’t need to be maintained and are less expensive than conventional syringes.

This market research report provides essential insights for manufacturers, investors, and decision-makers, guiding them through emerging opportunities, competitive challenges, and future growth trends.

They help to minimize the possibility of cross-contamination and maintain patient safety. frequent use of disposable syringes to administer medications intramuscularly or intravenously to treat a variety of illnesses. Additionally, a variety of pharmaceutical drugs are administered to a patient’s body using these devices.

Disposable syringes market outlook 2035
Looking ahead, the disposable syringes market is expected to surpass USD 17 billion by 2035. Factors contributing to this growth include the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, increased focus on infection control, and continuous technological advancements. However, challenges such as environmental concerns related to plastic waste and the need for cost-effective solutions in developing regions may influence market dynamics. Transparency Market Research

Union Health Minister J P Nadda Friday said out-of-pocket expenditure incurred by people for healthcare in India has declined to 39.4 per cent from 64.2 per cent a decade earlier.

Addressing the 12th edition of the International Health Dialogue 2025 organised by Apollo Hospitals, he said India is on the cusp of leading a global healthcare transformation.

The minister highlighted the country’s transformative strides in healthcare under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and commended Apollo Hospitals for leveraging technology to drive better health outcomes and ensure quality-driven patient care.

He said there has been a remarkable decline in out-of-pocket expenditure for healthcare in India as it decreased from 64.2 per cent a decade ago to 39.4 per cent now.

Dr Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice-Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals, emphasised India’s potential to become a global healthcare hub through the “Heal in India” initiative.

Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals Dr Sangita Reddy underscored the importance of scientific progress and medical technology in improving patient outcomes.

She expressed hope for a future where doctors, scientists, and patients work together to drive innovations in treatments, particularly vaccines, for better global health. PTI

Texas Children’s Hospital and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have announced a transformational collaboration dedicated solely to pediatric cancer care. Approved by the Texas Children’s Board of Trustees and the UT System Board of Regents, this new, first-of-its-kind joint venture will unite the nation’s largest comprehensive pediatric system and a top pediatric cancer program with the nation’s leading comprehensive cancer center. The collaboration has a single mission: to end childhood cancer.

“The scope and scale of our combined effort will build the world’s preeminent pediatric cancer center, addressing the growing need for excellent patient care and greatly benefiting children with cancer through increased access to care and to clinical trials,” said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., President of MD Anderson. “MD Anderson and Texas Children’s offer unique strengths that when brought together will accelerate improved outcomes for patients in Texas and around the world.”

Collaborative operations and patient care will launch in early 2026. A focus on new facilities is required to offer patients and their families a best-in-class healing environment with the latest medical technology designed specifically with them in mind. Specifics are not yet established but will be forthcoming. The combination of Texas Children’s and MD Anderson patient populations will increase pediatric cancer clinical trials, ultimately expediting discoveries and enhancing the availability of innovative cancer treatments. Texas has one of the youngest and fastest growing populations in the country and has the second most total pediatric cancer cases in the United States, creating a significant opportunity for scientific advancement through this joint venture.

“This groundbreaking collaboration between two proven leaders in pediatric and cancer care marks the beginning of a new era in the fight against childhood cancer,” says Debra F. Sukin, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Texas Children’s. “The combined force of our two iconic programs will be led with the nation’s top talent—from clinicians and researchers to nurses and administrative professionals—each committed to realizing the shared mission of eradicating pediatric cancer.”

While the two organizations have collaborated for years, this new effort will expand access while offering the nation’s largest complement of pediatric subspecialty care and services to children diagnosed with all types of cancer within a single entity. More than 200 Texas Children’s pediatric oncology specialists, who are full time faculty with Baylor College of Medicine, and over 100 MD Anderson pediatric clinicians and researchers will together advance this transformational care team. The collaboration will also feature pediatric oncology education programs aimed at training and expanding the next-generation pediatric oncology care team who will be key in our bold goal of eliminating childhood cancer.
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