LATEX MEDICAL DISPOSABLES MARKET ANALYSIS

Latex medical disposables are used as primary wearables for safety and precaution while performing medical procedures such as surgeries, check-ups, and diagnostic tests in the hospitals, clinics, and laboratory centers. The most widely used latex medical disposables are latex gloves, which are being used in massive quantities among the doctors, surgeons, dentists, and several other medical professionals across the world. The medical disposables are generally used to avoid contamination between the examiner and the patient. These disposables prevent transfer of infectious reagents from the healthcare personnel to the patient. Powdered latex gloves and powder-free latex gloves are two types of latex gloves. The powder-free latex gloves are high in demand due to its hassle-free properties and increased safety levels. The latex medical disposables also consists of various other products, which includes latex urine bags, catheters, and probes.

Market Dynamics

The annual rise in the number of surgeries performed globally increases the demand for latex nitrile disposable gloves, thereby driving growth of the global latex medical disposables market. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 232 million surgeries were performed across the world in 2013. All the simple as well as critical surgical procedures demands the use of safety gloves as a pre-requisite. Other factors driving growth of the global latex medical disposables market include rising prevalence of chronic kidney diseases that requires dialysis treatment as well as surgeries that make use of Foley catheters. According to a survey by the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco in 2013, over 650,000 patients in the U.S. were affected by end-stage renal disease (ESRD) that demand dialysis. Moreover, according to the National Kidney Foundation, over 2 million people across the globe are currently receiving treatments for kidney diseases in the form of dialysis or transplant. The increasing use of disposable latex urine bags by patients vulnerable to dialysis further boost growth of the global latex medical disposables market. However, sensitivity and allergy towards latex is the only factor that might hamper growth of the global latex medical disposables market. According to the American Latex Allergy Association, around 8%-17% of the health care professionals are allergic to latex.

Regional Insights:

On the basis of region, the global latex medical disposables market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. North America holds a dominant position in the global market, followed by Europe, owing to the increasing concern towards safety while performing medical procedures, as well as increasing measures to prevent contagious diseases. According to a fact sheet by the National Kidney Foundation in 2017, around 6.7% of the total Medicare budget is contributed towards the treatment of chronic kidney diseases. This suggests high demands for latex urine dialysis bags, as dialysis serves as a promising treatment for patients suffering from stage 2 and end stage kidney disease. Asia Pacific is expected to generate high revenue over the forecast period, owing to rapid developments in healthcare infrastructure and increasing number of surgeries in economies of this region such as China, India, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore. According to the statistics by Lancet Commission of Global Surgery in 2016, with 14,833 surgical procedures per 100,000 people, highest rates of surgeries are performed in Japan. Several other factors responsible for market growth in these economies include rise in per capita income and flourishing healthcare, medical, and pharmaceutical sectors within these economies.

Competitive Landscape:

The key players operating in the global latex medical disposables market include Supermax Corporation Berhad, Hartalega Holdings Bhd, C.R. Bard, B. Braun Melsungen, Dynarex Corporation, Top Glove Corporation, and Medtronic Plc. The market players are focused towards providing innovative products that are infection free to increase their customer base. For instance, in May 2018, Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc introduced the first disposable antimicrobial latex examination gloves made with d2p technology for complete hygiene and elimination of risks of antimicrobial infection from latex.

Market Taxonomy:

On the basis of product type, the global latex medical disposables market is segmented into:

• Latex Gloves
• Latex Foley Catheters
• Latex Probe Covers
• Urine Bags
• Others

On the basis of end user, the global latex medical disposables market is segmented into:

• Hospitals
• Clinics
• Diagnostic Centers
• Ambulatory Surgical Centers
• Others

On the basis of region, the global latex medical disposables market is segmented into:

• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Middle East
• Africa