Japan Ventilator Market Assessment, By Mobility, By Type, By Interface, By Mode, By End-user, By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, FY2017-FY2031F

Japan Ventilator Market size was valued at USD 353 million in FY2023, which is expected to reach USD 546.69 million in FY2031F, with a CAGR of 5.62% for the forecast period between FY2024 and FY2031F. Japan ventilator market is being driven by growing aging population and increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases. Japan has a declining population and face a growing elderly population. Due to this, the demand for elderly critical care is increasing, further pushing the demand for ventilators in Japan.

The country's increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases is contributing to market growth. Air pollution in Japan is a major concern due to increasing industrialization and urbanization. The current air pollution scenario and the aging population of Japan are both contributing to an increase in respiratory diseases, ultimately increasing the demand for ventilators. Moreover, government initiatives to improve critical care in hospital settings by improving ventilator inventory contribute to market growth.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Japanese government installed several ventilators in the country to reduce the burden of respiratory patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Technological advancements and industry collaborations are further expected to drive growth in the forecasted period. However, the higher cost of medical ventilators and risks associated with ventilator usage like ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) are challenges to be addressed. According to an emergency survey conducted by the Japanese Society of Respiratory Care Medicine and the Japan Association of Clinical Engineers in 2021, acute care hospitals in Japan have 45,293 full-featured mechanical ventilators. At the time of the survey, 15,202 (33.6%) ventilators were allocated to pediatric and neonatal patients, leaving 30,091 (66.4%) available for adults, which would be adequate for 24.1 patients per 100,000 people.

Increasing Geriatric Population

Japan is considered as the country with the oldest population in the world. Its population is declining as the elderly population is high and the fertility rate is decreasing yearly. The increasing aging population creates a demand for critical care and healthcare services including ventilators. The elderly population is more likely to have respiratory diseases due to air pollution, further creating demand for more ventilators in the future.

Chronic disease prevalence is higher in the elderly compared to other age groups, which is anticipated to contribute to the growth of Japan ventilator market in the forecast years. In Japan 29.1% of the population is aged 65 or above, which is expected to increase to 34.8% by 2040. Therefore, the demand for ventilators and critical care is anticipated to increase with the growing aging population.

Increasing Demand for Portable Ventilators

Over the past few years, the preference for ambulatory care centers and telehealth facilities has increased significantly due to reduced hospitalization span and cost-effectiveness. COVID-19 favored this transition as ambulatory care settings and home healthcare reflected notable benefits during the pandemic. Portable ventilators are mainly utilized in ambulatory care centers and home healthcare, thus there is increasing demand for portable ventilators as well. Companies and manufacturers are focusing on developing portable ventilators that can be easily managed to tap the unmet needs in the market.

Medline has made an agreement with medical device manufacturer Flight Medical to gain distribution rights for their portable medical ventilator called Flight 60 through the Medline distribution network. This partnership is expected to ensure widespread distribution of Flight 60 ventilators, further strengthening the portable ventilators market.

Growing Prevalence of Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), asthma, lower respiratory tract infection, and pneumonia affect the breathing capability in severe patients leading to the increasing demand of mechanical ventilators. COPD is the ninth leading cause of death in Japan. Although the prevalence of respiratory diseases is not high in Japan, compared to other countries but larger aging population in Japan contributes to higher susceptibility. Air pollution and smoking are major factors contributing to the growing prevalence of respiratory diseases in Japan. As per an article published in the Journal of Thoracic Disease, the overall prevalence of COPD in the general population aged more than 40 years is approximately 10% in Japan, the prevalence may increase up to 30-40% in smokers with cardiovascular disease and those who live in areas with severe AQI (air quality index).

Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the ventilator market in Japan. As the virus spread globally, the demand for ventilators surged, as they played a crucial role in treating severe cases of the disease, particularly those involving respiratory distress. The Japanese healthcare system faced many challenges, hospitals, and medical facilities had to quickly adapt with the increasing number of COVID-19 patients. In response, the Japanese government started initiatives to ramp up domestic production and secure additional ventilators. The pandemic also prompted increased research and development in the country, leading to innovations and improvements in ventilator technology. This surge in demand, coupled with enhanced research and development, led to significant growth in the Japanese ventilator market.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

The market players in Japan ventilator market are mostly domestic with their own manufacturing within the country. Leading companies include Nihon Kohden Corporation, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, Acoma Medical, etc. These companies have robust product portfolios and are constantly involved in research and development to cope with cost-effective and patient-compliant products.

In January 2023, Getinge launched Servo-C ventilator, which can be used for pediatric as well as adult patients. Servo-c employs modern components that facilitate intelligent fleet management, ensuring consistent operational availability while reducing expenses, without relying on proprietary disposable components. It includes features such as CO2 monitoring and Servo Compass to aid in visualizing volume and pressure objectives. Moreover, it offers the Open Lung Tool, which tracks recruitment trends in lung mechanics and gas exchange on a breath-by-breath basis, both in real-time and in retrospective analysis.