PUBLISHER: Verified Market Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1845912
PUBLISHER: Verified Market Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1845912
The global healthcare supply chain management market size was valued at USD 1.28 Billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 2.98 Billion by 2031, exhibiting a CAGR of 12.29% during the forecast period (2024-2031). Healthcare supply chain management monitors and manages the flow of healthcare products to eliminate inventory waste, reduce human error, and maximize patient care. It involves managing supplies, obtaining resources, and delivering products to providers and patients.
The demand for effective supply chain management in the healthcare sector is increasing due to hospitals and physicians' rising adoption of cost-cutting strategies. The efforts taken by several organizations to make their supply chain operations more agile and resilient have increased the demand for supply chain management solutions. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of robust supply chain management in healthcare highlighting vulnerabilities and prompting a surge in demand for advanced solutions that enhance visibility, traceability, and resilience.
Healthcare Supply Chain Management Market Definition/ Overview
Healthcare supply chain management involves coordinating and managing the flow of products, services, and medical information across the healthcare industry. This includes procuring, storing, distributing, and delivering drugs, medical devices, and other healthcare products from manufacturers to end users such as hospitals and clinics. Effective supply chain management ensures that healthcare providers have timely access to necessary supplies, reduces costs, improves operational efficiency, and improves patient care by minimizing disruptions
Healthcare supply chain management is essential to ensure the efficient, timely, and safe delivery of medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and equipment to healthcare providers and patients. It involves coordinating and managing the sourcing, procurement, production, transportation, and distribution of healthcare products. Effective supply chain management helps minimize costs, reduce waste, improve inventory management, and enhance patient care by preventing shortages and ensuring the availability of needed medical items.
The future use of supply chain management in healthcare will focus on improving efficiency, transparency, and resilience through advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These technologies enable real-time monitoring, predictive analytics for demand forecasting, and automated inventory management, reducing costs and minimizing shortages or surpluses. As healthcare becomes increasingly patient-centric, supply chain management will play a critical role in ensuring the timely delivery of personalized medicines and healthcare services, ultimately improving patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
The rapid development of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has improved supply chain operations in several areas of the healthcare system. RFID tags play a key role in the traceable distribution of drugs and medical supplies. RFID allows the user to be informed of key product information including current stock, expiration date, and other information about each product. RFID tags also facilitate asset management by tracking medical supplies, instruments, and equipment. Similarly, this technology will reduce costs, improve supply chain management efficiency, and increase patient safety through device tracking and monitoring for theft prevention, sales management, and patient billing.
In addition, RFID improves the safety and compliance of patients, guaranteeing the correct management and storage of medical products. For example, RFID can keep track of sensitive drugs at temperature and notify the staff if the storage conditions differ from acceptable intervals, preventing deterioration and guaranteeing the integrity of pharmaceutical products. It also improves the accuracy of the distribution of drugs by checking that the right product is delivered to the right patient reducing the risk of drug errors.
Supply Chain Management software is expensive whether installed or updated. Costs generally depend on the number of applications provided by the software. In addition, expensive providers the lack of computer implementation for the supply chain, and limited transparency in hidden costs also result in high costs. The high costs associated with the implementation of these solutions act as a restriction for market growth because it restricts the adoption rate. Consequently, management of these costs is one of the main concerns in health establishments.
Moreover, the installation cost is very high for healthcare organizations as they must bear the recurring subscription costs which limits the adoption of such solutions in healthcare organizations. Furthermore, several factors increase the cost of supply chain management software including complexity, customization requirements, and integration capabilities. The high cost of healthcare supply chain management solutions and services has led to slower adoption of supply chain management services in healthcare organizations which impacts market growth.
Providers are the most dominant players in supply chain management in health care because they are directly responsible for providing patient care and therefore have the most immediate need for efficient supply chain activities. Providers such as hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare institutions are the end users of medical supplies, medicines, and equipment. Their operations are highly dependent on a well-managed supply chain to guarantee the availability of necessary items at the right time and place. An effective supply chain management system helps to minimize providers' stock costs, reduce waste, avoid stockouts, and improve the results of the patient by ensuring that essential medical products are available when needed.
Manufacturers produce medical products and equipment, while distributors handle the logistics to get these items from manufacturers to providers. While they are essential in maintaining a smooth flow of goods through the supply chain, their direct involvement in the day-to-day management of inventory, ordering, and consumption at the point of care is less compared to providers. Therefore, providers have a more direct impact on the overall efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare supply chain management making them the dominant force in this sector.
Software is more dominant in healthcare supply chain management than hardware because of its critical role in optimizing and streamlining supply chain processes. Healthcare supply chain management software includes various applications such as inventory management, order processing, demand forecasting, and procurement which are essential to ensure that healthcare facilities have the necessary supplies when they need them. Advanced software solutions enable real-time data analysis, automation of routine tasks, and better decision-making, leading to improved efficiency and reduced costs.
With the increasing complexity of healthcare supply chains, software provides the flexibility and scalability to adapt to changing demands and regulatory requirements. The dominance of software in healthcare supply chain management is further underscored by the shift toward cloud-based solutions which reduce reliance on physical hardware and enable more accessible, scalable, and cost-effective supply chain management solutions.
North America is the most dominant region in the healthcare supply chain management market due to its advanced healthcare infrastructure and significant investments in technology. North America, particularly the United States is leading the adoption of advanced supply chain management solutions due to its large healthcare market, high levels of technological innovation, and significant investments in healthcare IT. The region's focus on improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and meeting regulatory requirements is driving the demand for advanced supply chain management software.
Furthermore, the presence of numerous technology providers and a well-developed IT ecosystem are supporting the widespread adoption of these solutions. Another factor driving the growth of the North American market is the increasing adoption of supply chain management solutions by healthcare providers in the region. Additionally, several health organizations are collaborating and forming consortia to reduce the risk of drug shortages.
Asia-Pacific is the most rapid growth in the market for the management of the supply chain for health care. This rapid growth is mainly guided by the growing assistance infrastructure of the region, increasing investments in technology, and a rapidly growing population that requires more efficient health services. Countries such as China and India are strongly investing in the modernization of their healthcare systems including the updating of the management of the supply chain management to manage the growing volume of medical supplies and pharmaceutical products. The emphasis of the region on improving access and quality of health care in combination with an increasing middle class with greater assistance needs feeds the demand for advanced solutions in the supply chain
In addition, the rapid approval of the technology and the expansion of health networks in Asia-Pacific contribute to the rapid growth of the market. Governments and private sector players in the region are increasingly implementing sophisticated supply chain management systems to address challenges such as drug shortages, logistical inefficiencies, and regulatory compliance. The growth of telemedicine, digital health records, and smart hospitals continues to drive the need for integrated supply chain solutions making the Asia Pacific a dynamic and rapidly evolving market in the global healthcare supply chain landscape.
Competitive Landscape:
The Healthcare Supply Chain Management Market is a dynamic and competitive space, characterized by a diverse range of players vying for market share. These players are on the run for solidifying their presence through the adoption of strategic plans such as collaborations, mergers, acquisitions, and political support. The organizations are focusing on innovating their product line to serve the vast population in diverse regions.
Some of the prominent players operating in the soy sauce market are:
Mckesson Corporation
Oracle Corporation
Sap, Cerner Corporation
Infor
Logitag Systems Ltd.
Harris Healthcare Group
Global Healthcare Exchange
Jump Technologies
Tecsys
In June 2022, Vamstar, a start-up that connects healthcare buyers and suppliers using artificial intelligence, secured around USD 9.5 million in Series a funding. The company aimed to utilize the fund to expand AI-based global healthcare supply chain platforms.
In February 2022, Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX) announced acquiring Syft AI-enabled inventory management and SCM solutions. The acquisition is expected to help GHX expand and digitalize its supply chain segment.