The logistics of medical, surgical, and pharmaceutical goods and equipment is known as medical or healthcare logistics. It also includes medical and laboratory devices, medical equipment supplies, and other materials, products, and items of equipment to help specialists, doctors, veterinary doctors, clinicians, and other health professionals. Medicinal logistics is a subset of logistics operations that focuses on transporting, storing, properly handling, and delivering generic medicines from the manufacturing site to the specified location. Medical logistics includes the entire supply chain operations, from start to finish. Raw materials are transported from their source to a production facility, and then to a machine shop. Any mode of transportation, including trucks, railways, ships, airplanes, temperature-controlled vehicles, and cars, can provide healthcare transportation. Additionally, the global expansion of medical facilities and infrastructure drives the growth of the healthcare logistics market.

Report Coverage: 

Drivers

• Growing demand for medications used for curing the novel coronavirus disease
• The continuous expansion of healthcare infrastructure around the world
• Increasing reliance on seaborne pharmaceutical transportation
• Increasing worldwide pharmaceutical sales

Restraints

• High cost of reverse supply chain operations
• Shortage of experienced professionals
• Lack of supportive government policies

Opportunity

• The growing demand for Over-the-Counter (OTC) pharmaceutical products
• The introduction of drone technology in the healthcare logistics market

Healthcare Logistics Market Dynamics

The rapid developments of biological drugs, as well as the expansion of the pharmaceutical industry, are expected to drive growth and demand in the healthcare logistics market. The COVID-19 disease outbreak's short-term market impact is critical for the rapid growth of medical logistics. Governments around the world are emphasizing healthcare facilities and an ample supply of medications for patients in the midst of the pandemic. As a result, trade in traditional medicines from various countries is expanding. The growing demands for over-the-counter medications such as Minerals, Vitamins, and Supplements, gastrointestinal drugs, common cold, and flu drugs, and dermatology products are also contributing to the market's growth. Furthermore, the growing use of air cargo logistics for long-distance and international air distribution of precious drugs and vaccines is expected to fuel market growth. Aside from that, the global healthcare logistics market is being hampered by increased complexities as a result of time-bound deliveries and supply chain customization.

Market Segmentation

Market By Supply Chain

• Cold Chain Logistics
• Non-Cold Chain Logistic

In terms of the supply chain, the cold chain logistics segment will gain a significant market share during the forecast period owing to increase demand for temperature-controlled product lines, such as the ongoing distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, which require precision temperature control transportation services to keep the products' efficiency. Furthermore, stringent government regulations requiring highly temperature-sensitive generic drugs to be kept at precise temperatures are supposed to propel segment growth throughout the forecast period. Temperature-controlled logistics and warehousing are required as a result of factors such as the development of sophisticated biological-based medicines, systemic treatment deliveries, vaccines, and complex nutrients that necessitate cold chain refinements.

Market By Service Type

• Transportation
  • Air Freight
  • Sea Freight
  • Overland Transportation
• Warehouse and Storage
• Monitoring Components

Based on the service type, the warehouse and storage segment gained more than half of the market share in 2021 due to increased demand for logistics solutions from the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Pharmaceutical Warehousing provides a full range of pharmaceutical warehousing services, including cold storage and distribution of bulk pharmaceutical chemicals, medicines, and medical equipment. The rapidly increasing demand for branded and generic pharmacy products has created a huge demand for storage facilities to preserve and procure the efficacy of these products after production, as well as their subsequent distribution to distributors and retailers via multiple channels. As a result, the warehouse and storage segment increases market demand.

Market By Product

• Pharmaceutical Products
• Medical Devices
• Others

Based on the products, the medical devices segment is projected to expand significantly during the forecast period. Rapid technological advancements, combined with an increase in the existing elderly population, can be attributed to this tremendous growth. Industry innovation is driven by consumer demands for better, faster, and more accessible healthcare. However, Growth provides an excellent opportunity for medical device manufacturers to introduce and develop new products, increase market share, and work to improve the lives of patients through better healthcare. Furthermore, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, as well as the increasing focus of healthcare systems on early diagnosis and treatment, is increasing the number of patients undergoing advanced surgical procedures, driving demand for medical devices. Furthermore, increased investments in R&D by medical technology providers, as well as favorable conditions provided by federally regulated entities for their approval, are expected to boost this industry during the forecast period.

Healthcare Logistics Market Regional Overview

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• U.K.
• France
• Germany
• Spain
• Rest of Europe

Latin America

• Mexico
• Brazil
• Rest of Latin America

Asia-Pacific

• India
• China
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• Rest of Asia-Pacific

Middle East & Africa

• South Africa
• GCC
• Rest of Middle East & Africa

The European Healthcare Logistics Market is expected to grow at the fastest growth rate during the forecast period. The increased demand for vaccines, cellular therapies, and blood components in the pharmaceutical industry is propelling the European healthcare logistics market forward. Furthermore, the increased supply of generic drugs and vaccines fueled by the global COVID-19 epidemic and increased investments by leading pharmaceutical companies, is driving demand for healthcare logistics in Europe. With over 40 countries, Europe is among the widest and most varied logistics markets in the world, with the transport of goods by road, sea, air, and rail across 45 border crossings. The logistics sector in Europe is dominated by the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. Furthermore, the rising supplies of advanced medical devices and demand for a variety of pharmacy products and services, such as OTC drugs, in the domestic market have helped the market in gaining a sizable market share.

Competitive Landscape

Some of the prominent players in global Healthcare Logistics market are CEVA Logistics AG, United Parcel Service Inc., Air Canada, LifeConEx, AmerisourceBergen Corp., Cold Chain Technologies LLC, VersaCold Logistics Services, Continental Cargo OU, Deutsche Post DHL Group, Kuehne + Nagel International AG, FedEx Corp., and Schenker AG.