MOBILE HEALTH VEHICLE MARKET ANALYSIS

Global mobile health vehicle market was estimated at US$ 244.8 Mn in 2023, and is anticipated to reach US$ 383.3 Mn by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period.

The increasing demand for accessible healthcare services, especially in rural and remote areas, is driving the growth of the mobile health vehicle market. Mobile health vehicles are equipped with medical equipment and supplies, which allow healthcare providers to deliver basic healthcare services to people in underserved areas.

The rising prevalence of chronic diseases is also contributing to the market growth. Mobile health vehicles can be used to provide preventive care and chronic disease management services, which can help to improve the health outcomes of patients.

Analyst Views:

The global mobile health vehicle market is poised to grow significantly in the coming years. Driven by rising healthcare costs and shortage of healthcare facilities in rural areas, mobile health vehicles provide an affordable and accessible means of delivering primary care services directly to the patients. These vehicles enable healthcare access in remote locations that often lack proper transportation facilities. Equipped with basic medical equipment and staffed by healthcare professionals, mobile clinics aim to bridge the rural-urban healthcare divide.

However, the market also faces challenges in terms of high initial investment required to procure and operate the mobile health vehicles. Maintaining service quality and ensuring standard medical protocols are followed within the confines of a vehicle adds operational complexities. Lack of proper infrastructure in rural hinterlands can impede the last-mile coverage of these vehicles. Overall, the mobile health vehicle market provides an innovative solution for enhancing healthcare access in medically underserved regions worldwide. With ongoing technological advancements and operating experience, these vehicles are poised to transform primary care delivery, especially in remote rural.

Global Mobile Health Vehicle Market- Regional Insights

• North America is the largest market for mobile health vehicles, accounting for 33.5% of the global market share. This is due to the region's high healthcare expenditure, increasing incidences of chronic diseases, aging population, and well-developed network infrastructure.
• Europe is the second-largest market, with a 26.1% of market share. The region is also witnessing a rise in the adoption of mobile health vehicles, due to factors such as increasing awareness of chronic diseases, government initiatives, and the growing popularity of telehealth.
• Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing market for mobile health vehicles, with a 20.3% of market share. This is due to the region's large and growing population, rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and increasing investment in healthcare infrastructure.

Figure 1. Global Mobile Health Vehicle Market Share (%), By Region, 2023

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Global Mobile Health Vehicle Market- Drivers

• Increasing adoption of inorganic growth strategies such as acquisition by the key market players: Increasing adoption of inorganic growth strategies such as acquisition by the key market players is expected to drive the global mobile health vehicle market growth over the forecast period. For instance, in February 2022, Potomac Equity Partners, LLC, an investment firm, announced the acquisition of U.S. Mobile Health Exams, a provider of mobile health testing and examination services. U.S. Mobile Health Exams specializes in occupational health tests (e.g., hearing conservation, respiratory protection, physical exams, and drug and alcohol testing), and health screenings (e.g., blood tests, ultrasound screenings, immunizations, community health outreach and other advanced screenings). The company primarily provides services to commercial customers who are subject to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) and the S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”) employee testing requirements.
• Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases: Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for the key market players in the global mobile health vehicle market. For instance, in March 2023, according to the data published by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), in the U.S., more than 57.8 Mn people were affected with diabetes in 2021.
• Increasing funding from non-government organizations: Increasing funding from non-government organizations is expected to aid in market growth. For instance, in April 2022, Wayne State University, a U.S. based public research university and Wayne Health, a non-profit, multi-specialty academic group, announced that they had received a US$ 900,000 grant from Bank of America to strengthen the Wayne Health Mobile Unit (WHMU) program.
• Healthcare Cost Reduction: Mobile health vehicles can help reduce healthcare costs by providing efficient and cost-effective healthcare services. They offer an alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar healthcare facilities, which can be expensive to establish and maintain. Mobile health vehicles can reach a larger population while requiring fewer resources and infrastructure, thereby lowering the overall healthcare costs. For instance, in December 2020, according to data published, by  the National Library of Medicine, the cost per patient visit for all mobile vehicle health service types ranged from US$ 65 to US$ 529, and appears to be considerably less than fixed clinic/ hospital services.

Global Mobile Health Vehicle Market Opportunities

• Increasing launch of mobile health vehicle services: Increasing launch of mobile health vehicle services by the key market players is expected to drive the global mobile health vehicle market growth over the forecast period. For instance, in March 2021, Lamprey Health Care, a community health center, launched the mobile health van. The company launched mobile health van to provide immunizations, testing, and medical and behavioral health services to the community and to remove the barriers and expand healthcare services.
• Increasing adoption of inorganic growth strategies such as acquisition: Increasing adoption of inorganic growth strategies such as acquisition is expected to drive the growth of the market over the forecast period. For instance, in May 2023, Nomi Health, a healthcare company, announced the acquisition of I Am Wellness, a provider of primary and family care services. The acquisition will help the companies by expanding the network of on-the-ground peer navigators while adding new virtual care programs and mobile units.
• Collaboration with healthcare providers and institutions: Mobile health vehicle operators can explore partnerships and collaborations with hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare institutions. These collaborations can help in the seamless integration of mobile health services with existing healthcare networks. By working together, the mobile health vehicles can act as extensions of established healthcare facilities, thereby ensuring continuity of care, sharing patient data, and facilitating referrals. For instance, on April 23, 2023, Benco Dental, a U.S.-based dental product and equipment distributor, announced a collaboration with Matthews Specialty Vehicles to offer the most advanced mobile dental coaches for the dental industry. The Benco Dental Mobile Dental Coach is a cohesively designed platform that integrates dependability, longevity, and easy drivability with Benco Dental's state-of-the-art practice planning expertise.
• Cost saving benefits: Cost-saving benefits of mobile health vehicles is expected to drive the growth of the global mobile health vehicle market over the forecast period. For instance, according to data published in December 2020, mobile health vehicle has the potential of providing access to population at risk, at apparent low cost. Annual operating costs vary by clinical service type with the major cost drivers attributable to labor (salaries and fringe benefits) costs. Given its relatively low cost, mobile clinic model appears to be a sound economic complement to stationary healthcare facilities. Not only will it help fill a current healthcare access gap, but could help mitigate the negative impact of the growing number of rural hospital closures in rural areas in the U.S. where the need for healthcare is the direst.

Global Mobile Health Vehicle Market Trends

• Increasing adoption of inorganic growth strategies such as partnership: Increasing adoption of inorganic growth strategies such as partnership by the key players in the market is expected to drive the growth of the market over the forecast period. For instance, on March 6, 2023, Phoenix Motor Inc., a global leader in the custom design and manufacture of purpose-built specialty vehicles, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Matthews Specialty Vehicles to jointly build and deploy Class 4 electric specialty vehicles for commercial applications such as mobile healthcare, biomedical services, bloodmobiles, bookmobiles, classrooms, public safety, and shuttles
• Focus on providing services to patients: The key players are focusing on providing services to patients which is expected to drive the growth of the market over the forecast period. For instance, on March 2, 2020, Ronald McDonald Care Mobile provided free vaccinations and checkups to children in the Houston area in U.S. The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile's two-room clinic on wheels delivers high-quality free medical care at traditional Texas Children’s Hospitals.
• Increasing launch of mobile healthcare vehicles: The market players are focusing on growth strategies, such as the launch of mobile healthcare vehicles, which is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period. For instance, in October 2021, Office of Academic Clinical Affairs, University of Minnesota, a public research university in the U.S., launched a mobile healthcare vehicle. This mobile healthcare vehicle features a 38-foot, climate-controlled truck, which has two exam rooms that can provide general medical, pharmaceutical, dentistry, vision, and nursing services to Minnesotans. The truck is furnished with a wheelchair lift and an external awning in addition to the two clinical areas for patient care.
• Customization and Specialization: Mobile health vehicles are becoming more customized and specialized to meet specific healthcare needs. Some vehicles are designed for specific medical specialties, such as dental care, mental health services, or women's health. Customized vehicles are equipped with specialized equipment and amenities to deliver targeted services effectively. This trend allows healthcare providers to cater to specific patient populations and offer focused care.

Global Mobile Health Vehicle Market- Restraints

• Infrastructure Limitations: Mobile health vehicles require appropriate infrastructure to operate effectively. This includes access to reliable power sources, water supply, waste disposal facilities, and internet connectivity. In remote or underserved areas with limited infrastructure, setting up and operating mobile health vehicles can be challenging, thus hindering their deployment and scalability.
• Cost and Funding Constraints: Acquiring and maintaining mobile health vehicles can involve substantial costs. These include vehicle acquisition, equipment installation, maintenance, fuel, insurance, staffing, and technology upgrades. Additionally, funding sources for mobile health vehicles, such as grants, sponsorships, or government support, may be limited or competitive. Financial constraints can impede the expansion and sustainability of mobile health vehicle programs.
• Regulatory and legal challenges: Mobile health vehicles must comply with various regulatory and legal requirements. These include licensing, permits, certifications, and compliance with healthcare standards, and privacy Navigating these regulatory landscapes can be complex and time-consuming, thus potentially delaying the deployment of mobile health vehicles or increasing operational costs.
• Limited scope of services: Mobile health vehicles may face limitations in the scope of services they can provide, due to space constraints and the availability of specialized equipment. Certain medical procedures or diagnostic tests may require larger facilities or sophisticated equipment that cannot be accommodated in a mobile setting. The inability to offer a comprehensive range of services could restrict the market potential for mobile health vehicles.

Counterbalances: As a result, the key market players need to focus on maintaining health vehicles within limited financial funding and limited infrastructural settings. The companies must comply with the regulations without increasing any further operational costs.

Recent Developments

New product launches

• On April 6, 2023, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, a healthcare provider, launched the mobile health vehicle. The mobile health vehicle is equipped with modern medical equipment, two exam rooms, a lab, and physician documentation station.
• In December 2022, The School of Dental Medicine, based in New York, U.S., launched a new, 40-foot-long mobile dental unit that expanded dental care to thousands of people in New York, U.S. The new mobile dental unit is equipped with two dental chairs, a modern panoramic X-ray unit, digital radiography, a sterilization center, wheelchair lift, and electronic health record system.
• In November 2021, the University of Minnesota launched the mobile healthcare vehicle. The Mobile Health Initiative brings together University of Minnesota experts and students with community partners to deliver a range of urgently needed healthcare services and access to follow-up care when needed.

Acquisition and partnerships

• On May 2023, Nomi Health, a healthcare programs, announced the acquisition of I Am Wellness, a provider of primary and family care services. The acquisition will help the companies by expanding the network of on-the-ground peer navigators while adding new virtual care programs and mobile units.
• In February 2020, Volta Power Systems, a company which provides access to safe, powerful, and simple energy solutions, built with the latest in automotive-grade li-ion technology, and Summit Bodyworks, one of the leaders in the specialty vehicle industry, announced a new partnership with Matco Tools, a tool distribution franchise for the automotive and other industries, to offer an idle-free, lithium ion power system to Matco franchisees. Matco Tools released a new line of trucks featuring the energy-saving systems at its National Tool Expo Conference in San Diego, CA. Volta systems will enable Matco Tool Franchisees to save on maintenance costs and provide their shoppers a quiet retail environment by eliminating the need to continually idle their truck.
• In October 2020, Armor Mobile Systems acquired Medical Coaches, a specialty trailer manufacturer based in Oneonta, New York. Medical Coaches' mobile medical and custom trailers and medical coaches are being manufactured under the Armor Mobile Systems brand.

Figure 2. Global Mobile Health Vehicle Market Share (%), By Type of Vehicle, 2023

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Top companies in Global Mobile Health Vehicle Market

• Mobile Healthcare Facilities LLC
• Odulair LLC
• Medical Coaches Inc.
• Lifeline Mobile, Inc.
• Matthews Specialty Vehicles
• La Boit Specialty Vehicles
• Farber Specialty Vehicles
• Frazer Ltd.
• LifeLine Mobile, Inc.
• EMS Mobil Sistemler
• Armor Mobile Systems
• LDV Inc.
• Imagi-Motive, LLC.
• Delta Dental of South Dakota
• Volta Power Systems

Definition: Mobile healthcare vehicles are customized medical clinics on wheels. Usually, they employ integrated technology to provide specific healthcare facilities.