Medical Coatings Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Rising demand for minimally invasive surgeries (MIS): Less blood loss and shorter recovery times gained from MIS procedures are increasingly becoming popular around the globe, establishing a substantial demand base for the medical coatings market. Specifically, the involvement of precision instruments such as catheters, guidewires, and endoscopes requires protective layers to improve overall performance and biocompatibility of the device. This can also be evidenced by the explosive growth of the endoscopes industry, which is one of the largest fields of application for this sector.
• Growing worldwide concerns about HAIs: In modern healthcare, HAIs are becoming a global issue, where catheters, implants, and surgical instruments are common vectors for infection. Testifying to this demography, a 2022 NLM report revealed that the occurrence rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) among ICU patients stood at 7.7 per 1000 catheter days. Another WHO finding underscored that more than 52.3% of HAI sepsis-afflicted individuals treated in the ICU die every year. This epidemiology concludes the urgent necessity of incorporating options from the market in regular healthcare practices.
• Advancements in coating technologies: Ongoing innovations in nanotechnology, polymer science, and surface chemistry are securing continuous development in the market. Newer products launched in this sector now offer combined benefits such as antimicrobial resistance, improved lubricity, and drug delivery capabilities. For instance, in June 2024, Hydromer launched a next-generation version of its thromboresistant medical device coating, F200t. HydroThrombX can reduce platelet adhesion and cell mitosis while preventing the risk of restenosis. Such advances help manufacturers maintain both compliance and market relevance.

Trends in Key Demographics in the Medical Coatings Market

Global Cardiac Surgical Volume and Targets by Country Income Group

(2024)

Source: NLM

Challenges

• High product pricing & affordability: The high prices related to coated instruments and equipment used in healthcare often drive the use of poor-quality products within low-income areas of the world. Thus, this limits the rate of acceptability and adoption in the medical coatings market. On the other hand, pressure from affordability thresholds makes it difficult for manufacturers to maintain quality and profitability at the same time. This ultimately imposes a shortfall of financial backing and commercial engagement in this sector.
• Supply chain integrity & counterfeits: The worldwide concern about counterfeit healthcare-related products also harms brand reputation in the market. It not only damages the consumer trust in branded products but also creates financial erosion in this sector. Particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the economic barriers are increasing the occurrence of counterfeits, underscoring the urgent need for the development of affordable, region-specific pipelines.