GLOBAL MOBILE STROKE UNIT MARKET SIZE AND SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS AND FORECASTS (2023 - 2030)

The global mobile stroke unit (MSU) market size is expected to reach US$ 16.04 Bn by 2030, from US$ 9.54 Bn in 2023, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.7% during the forecast period.

A mobile stroke unit (MSU) is a specialized ambulance or vehicle equipped with advanced medical imaging technology and a team of healthcare professionals trained to diagnose and treat stroke patients rapidly. The primary goal of a mobile stroke unit is to reduce the time it takes to diagnose and treat stroke, particularly ischemic stroke, which occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain.

Global Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) Market- Regional Insights

• North America is expected to be the largest market for mobile stroke unit (MSU) during the forecast period, accounting for over 42.1% of the market share in 2023. North America has established itself as the dominant region in the global mobile stroke unit (MSU) market. The region enjoys strong healthcare infrastructure and high healthcare spending across nations like the U.S. and Canada. This has paved the way for the early adoption of innovative technologies in the pre-hospital care sector. Much of the region's dominance can be attributed to the presence of leading global players. Top medical device companies have their headquarters in North America and invest heavily in Research & Development. This has enabled the development of technologically advanced mobile stroke units that can effectively treat patients and help save precious time during emergencies. Additionally, the presence of several key industry participants based out of North America has made mobile stroke units easily accessible across major cities.
• Asia Pacific market is expected to be the second-largest market for mobile stroke unit (MSU), accounting for over 31.2% of the market share in 2023. Asia Pacific region has emerged as the fastest-growing market for mobile stroke units globally. Nations like China, India, and Japan are implementing significant investments to enhance emergency medical services. Rising healthcare expenditures, a growing geriatric population, and changing disease patterns have prompted governments to focus on time-critical illnesses like strokes. This has spurred the demand for mobile stroke units that can treat patients remotely and aid in faster ambulance transfers.
• The Europe has promising mobile stroke unit (MSU) market with a share of 18.2% during the forecast period. Countries like Germany and the U.K. have pioneered MSU initiatives, deploying specialized ambulances with on-board CT scanners and stroke-ready teams to expedite stroke diagnosis and treatment. The market is driven by a collective effort to enhance emergency stroke care, reduce treatment delays, and improve patient outcomes. Collaborations between healthcare providers, governments, and technology companies play a crucial role in advancing MSU capabilities.

Figure 1. Global Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) Market Share (%), By Region, 2023

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Analyst View:

The mobile stroke unit (MSU) market is poised for substantial growth in the foreseeable future, primarily driven by increased awareness of the critical time sensitivity in stroke treatment. Traditionally, patients were taken to the hospital before treatment initiation, but the understanding that every minute is crucial has spurred demand for mobile stroke units. These units can administer clot-busting medications and emergency treatments en route to the hospital. While North America currently leads due to higher healthcare investments, Asia Pacific is anticipated to experience the fastest growth, fueled by the rising incidence of strokes in countries like China and India.

However, the market faces challenges, including high setup and operating costs, hindering wider adoption. In many developing regions, the lack of proper stroke care infrastructure and trained paramedics poses obstacles. Patient hesitancy in choosing ambulances over private vehicles also affects market revenues in some areas. Growing healthcare budgets, especially in developing economies, may address some of these challenges. Opportunities for market growth include incorporating advanced diagnostic equipment and expertise into mobile stroke units, along with integrating telemedicine for expanded scope and outreach.

Global Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) Market- Drivers

• Increased focus on early treatment of stroke patients: Increased focus on early treatment of stroke patients is a major factor driving the growth of the mobile stroke unit (MSU) market. Timely treatment within the golden hour (the first few hours after the onset of stroke symptoms) is crucial to effectively treating stroke and reducing long-term disabilities. Mobile stroke units equipped with CT scanners allow for diagnosis and treatment to begin right at the patient's location before they even reach the hospital. This helps save valuable time and improves patient outcomes. Government organizations worldwide have recognized the potential of mobile stroke units to revolutionize acute stroke management. Some countries have started pilot programs to explore the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of deploying these units. It is expected that successful pilot programs will receive greater funding in the coming years to expand mobile stroke unit services across entire regions. As more clinical evidence emerges showing their benefits over standard ambulance transport systems, their use will likely spread quickly.
• Increasing geriatric population: The global geriatric population, aged 65 years and older, is growing at an unprecedented rate. As per the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the number of people aged 65 years or older is projected to grow to nearly 1.52 billion in 2050 from 703 million in 2019. With age comes an increased risk of facing health issues and disabilities. Stroke is one such condition that is highly prevalent among the elderly. As per the World Health Organization, over 80% of all stroke-related deaths occur in people aged over 65, globally. Timely treatment is critical for stroke patients to reduce mortality and chances of long-term disabilities. However, access to hospitals and specialist stroke care within the golden hour remains a challenge, especially in rural areas.

Global Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) Market- Opportunities

• Emerging markets in developing countries: Emerging markets in developing countries present a huge growth opportunity for mobile stroke units. These countries are experiencing rapidly growing urbanization and rising income levels, which is translating to a growing disease burden of non-communicable diseases like strokes. However, their traditional healthcare infrastructure still lags behind developed nations in terms of accessibility and availability of advanced stroke care facilities like dedicated stroke units in hospitals. This is where mobile stroke units can make a significant impact and help bridge this access gap. Mobile stroke units are specialized ambulances or vans equipped with fundamental diagnostic tools and essential stroke treatment capabilities. These units are designed to rapidly reach patients within the critical golden hour, allowing for the prompt administration of stroke therapies such as thrombolysis. This can significantly improve patient outcomes in a developing country context where, in many cases, the nearest hospital with a stroke unit may be hours away from the location of the incidence.
• Technological advancements in mobile stroke units: Technological advancements in mobile stroke units present a huge opportunity in the mobile stroke unit (MSU) market. Mobile stroke units are ambulances equipped with essential tools to diagnose and treat stroke on site, before reaching the hospital. This helps reduce time to treatment and improves patient outcomes. With the rising incidence of stroke worldwide, timely treatment is critical. Recent technological developments allow mobile stroke units to conduct advanced diagnostics like CT scans and angiograms directly in the field. This enables emergency medical teams to quickly identify if a patient is having an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke and immediately begin appropriate treatment like clot-busting drugs or surgery. Such accurate diagnosis and initiation of treatment within the golden hour period of stroke largely improve the chances of survival and recovery. Integrating telestroke capabilities allows mobile units to securely transmit scan reports and patient details to awaiting neurologists at partner hospitals for immediate consultation. All these latest innovations help cut time to treatment and boost effectiveness of pre-hospital stroke care. 

Global Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) Market- Trends

• Development of compact and portable mobile stroke units: The development of compact and portable mobile stroke units is having a significant impact on the Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) market. These new mobile units address a key limitation of traditional ambulance-based stroke care: the time delay in reaching and evaluating patients. Strokes are medical emergencies that require timely treatment to reduce long-term disability or death. Compact mobile stroke units can reach the patient within minutes of onset of symptoms, rather than waiting for ambulance transportation to the nearest hospital.
• Integration of telemedicine in mobile stroke units: Integration of telemedicine in mobile stroke units has significantly impacted the Mobile Stroke Unit Market in recent With the advancement of telemedicine technologies, mobile stroke units are now being equipped with facilities like high-definition video cameras, digital stethoscopes and examination equipment that allow onboard physicians and paramedics to consult with stroke specialists in hospitals via live audio-visual sessions. This enables early consultation with neurologists even before the patient reaches the hospital. The neurologists can view the patient's condition in real-time through cameras and recommend necessary treatments based on initial scans and assessments done onboard the mobile unit.

Global Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) Market - Restraints

• High cost of mobile stroke units: The high cost associated with mobile stroke units poses a significant challenge for the growth of the mobile stroke unit (MSU) market. Developing and procuring specialized ambulances that are equipped to function as mobile stroke units involves substantial investment. These units need to be retrofitted with expensive medical equipment like CT scanners, ultrasound machines, and other imaging and diagnostic devices to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of stroke at the patient's location. Additional costs are incurred in training paramedics and medical staff that will work in these units. Given the specialized nature of care provided, staffing mobile stroke units also leads to increased operational expenses.
• Lack of trained professionals: Lack of trained professionals is one of the major challenges restraining the growth of mobile stroke unit (MSU) market. A mobile stroke unit requires specially trained emergency medical professionals who can quickly diagnose a stroke and provide immediate treatment on site. However, there is a severe shortage of such trained emergency medical personnel across many regions. Providing treatment for stroke within the first few hours, known as the golden hour, is extremely critical to recovery. A mobile stroke unit aims to reach the patient’s location within this crucial time window to administer clot-busting drugs or perform a mechanical thrombectomy procedure to remove the clot. However, this requires specialized skills and training, which take substantial time and resources to develop. Most emergency medical training programs do not have a dedicated focus on stroke treatment and rehabilitation. Therefore, it is often difficult to find professionals with the right expertise to operate mobile stroke units proficiently.

Figure 2. Global Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) Market Share (%), By Type, 2023

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Global Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) Market- Recent Developments

Business Development Activities by the Market Players

• On August 17, 2023, The UC Health Mobile Stroke Unit marked its third anniversary. As the region's inaugural and sole mobile stroke unit, it has delivered advanced, subspecialty emergency stroke care to almost 450 patients since its inception.
• In November 2021, the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) announced that it will serves as a primary operating partner for UCLA Health’s Mobile Stroke Unit Program (MSU), a shared emergency medical service that provides life-saving therapies to potential stroke patients throughout the Los Angeles County region. As a primary operating partner, LBFD is dedicating one firefighter or paramedic to serve as a team member for the MSU.

Top companies in Global Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) Market

• Demers Ambulances
• Tri-Star Industries Limited
• Cardinal Health
• Cleveland Clinic
• NeuroLogica Corp
• MEYTEC GmbH Informationssysteme
• EXCELLANCE, INC.
• Falck A/S

Definition: A mobile stroke unit (MSU) is a specialized ambulance equipped with advanced medical technology and a team of healthcare professionals, aiming to provide rapid and on-the-spot diagnosis and treatment for stroke patients. The MSU is designed to bring time-critical stroke care directly to the patient, bypassing the traditional process of transporting the individual to a hospital before initiating treatment. Equipped with a computed tomography (CT) scanner, laboratory facilities, and a specialized medical team, the MSU enables early detection of stroke symptoms and immediate administration of crucial interventions, such as clot-busting medications. This innovative approach addresses the time-sensitive nature of stroke care, minimizing delays and improving the chances of positive patient outcomes. MSUs play a pivotal role in regions where timely access to stroke treatment can significantly impact patient recovery.