Medical Bed Companies Seek Markets Outside the US, Europe

New York, November 9, 2011--Makers of medical beds used in hospitals, nursing homes and patients' homes will see their best growth come from markets outside the U.S. and Europe, according to Kalorama Information. A new report from the healthcare market research publisher, notes that the $ 5.3 billion market for medical beds will see small growth over the next five years in traditionally strong markets, but higher growth can be expected in other countries.

Companies such as Hill-Rom, ArjoHuntleigh, Stryker and Invacare lead the market for medical beds, according to the report. The market is competitive and has become increasingly so since the introduction of cost-cutting measures in European countries and new comparative bidding processes and future device taxes in the United States as part of healthcare reform. Although these are somewhat mitigated by the aging populations in these countries and the expected associated increases in diseases and hospitalizations, the result will be small growth rates. This has marketers eyeing nations that are recently building up their healthcare systems.

"Medical bed makers selling to Europe have already encountered lower sales due to cost restraints, and changes to the US healthcare system are likely to have the same effect," said Bruce Carlson, publisher of Kalorama Information. "At the same time, we expect sales of medical beds in the rest of the world to more than double by 2016."

Kalorama suggests that this will change the way bed manufacturers look at their marketing efforts and where they locate distributors and sales personnel. The report forecasts that sales outside the US and Europe will grow from 13% to 18% of total worldwide medical bed sales between now and 2016. Africa and the Middle East are among the regions that Kalorama sees companies targeting more in the future. India presently has one-fifth of the world average number of hospital beds per million population and an estimated 455,000 additional beds will be required by 2012. China and Brazil have recently introduced increased health care spending and facilities construction. Companies profiled in the report have also found customers in the Czech Republic, Russia and Romania.

Kalorama Information's report,

World Market for Medical Beds

, goes into more detail with sales forecasts by type of bed, competitor profiles, key drivers and more.

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