Demand for disposable medical supplies to increase

Demand in the U.S. for disposable medical supplies will increase 4.6 percent annually to $59 billion in 2013, according to a new study from The Freedonia Group Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. The projected increase in disposable products follows concern about hospital infections, a rise in home health care and the aging of the population, among other factors. The best growth opportunities, according to Freedonia, will be in intermittent catheters for urinary drainage, dry powder inhalers, prefilled syringes, transdermal patches for drug delivery, blood glucose test strips, wound sealants and daily contact lenses. Class IV surgical drapes and gowns will post the fastest gains among nonwoven medical textiles, as surgical infection safeguards are upgraded in hospitals and outpatient surgery centers. For more information, see www.freedoniagroup.com.