Brazil Home Infusion Therapy Market

Brazil Home Infusion Therapy Market Executive Summary

The Brazil Home Infusion Therapy market is at around $899 Mn in 2023 and is projected to reach $1654 Mn in 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 9.1% during the forecast period.

Home infusion therapy involves the administration of drugs to a patient at their own residence and excludes hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, infusion suites and provider offices. The drugs and biologicals are safely administered either subcutaneously or intravenously through a durable medical equipment (DME) such as needle or catheter. The therapies commonly delivered through infusion include anti-infectives, parenteral nutrition, hydration, chemotherapy, pain management, inotropes, immune globulin, and many more. Home infusion can also be used for certain special therapies, such as enteral nutrition and specialized medications (e.g., growth hormone) that can be administered via an IV-line, subcutaneous injection, or intramuscular injection. For many acute and chronic illnesses, home infusion is a safer and efficient substitute for hospital care. Diseases of the immune system (Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis), infections that do not respond to oral antibiotics, cancer, dehydration, and gastrointestinal diseases are among the conditions that commonly require infusion therapy. Home infusion therapy has gained much attention in the healthcare sector as it offers many benefits over the in-patient treatment provided in the hospitals. Inpatient treatment can be expensive for patients who need long-term rehabilitation, and it also keeps them from returning to their normal routine. Contrastingly, home infusion therapy allows the patients to receive parenteral medications in the comfort of their homes at a comparatively lower cost. Thus, the number of treatments offered at home continues to grow as quality-of-life benefits and improved clinical outcomes are demonstrated for individuals who receive home infusion therapy.

By the age of 60 years, approximately 70% of Brazilians have at least one chronic illness, demonstrating that the burden of several chronic illnesses is significant, rising, and concerning among the older adult population. The Brazil Home Infusion Therapy Market is therefore driven by significant factors such as the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, expanding geriatric population, and technological advancements. However, uncertain reimbursement policies, limited availability of nurses, and infrastructure and accessibility issues restrict the growth and potential of the market.

The major players of the Brazil Home Infusion Therapy Market are Poly Medicure, Baxter International, ICU Medical (Smiths Medical), Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), and Fresenius Kabi, among others.

Market Dynamics

Market Growth Drivers

Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases: The global rise of chronic diseases is a complex issue with significant consequences for individuals and healthcare systems worldwide. Chronic diseases like autoimmune disorders, cancers, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) require ongoing treatment. Home infusion therapy offers a safe and effective way to manage chronic conditions at home as it allows for convenient administration of medications over extended periods, improving patient adherence and treatment outcomes. For instance, chemotherapy drugs can be safely administered to oncology patients at home, reducing hospital stays and improving patient comfort during treatment. Home infusion can also deliver insulin or other medications for patients with complex diabetes management needs. Thus, the rising burden of chronic diseases creates a growing demand for innovative and effective treatment options. Home infusion therapy, with its convenience, cost-effectiveness, and adaptability to various chronic conditions, plays a significant role in managing these illnesses and improving patient quality of life, leading to overall growth of the market.

Expanding Geriatric Population: The global geriatric population is experiencing a significant and rapid increase and is a key growth driver for the home infusion therapy market for many reasons. Brazil has approximately 180 Mn inhabitants, of whom 15.2 Mn are aged 60 and older and 1.9 Mn are aged 80 and older. By 2025, the Brazilian elderly population is expected to grow to more than 32 Mn. As people age, they become more susceptible to chronic conditions like diabetes, heart failure, and autoimmune disorders. These conditions often require long-term treatment with medications that can be effectively delivered through home infusion therapy. Also, the growing elderly population is characterized by decreased mobility which makes frequent hospital visits challenging. Home infusion therapy offers a convenient alternative, allowing them to receive treatment in the comfort of their own homes, improving their quality of life and reducing caregiver burden. Moreover, older adults are more susceptible to infections, and hospitals settings can increase their chances of adopting these infections. However, home infusion therapy can reduce the risk of exposure to hospital-acquired infections, leading to better patient outcomes. Overall, a larger geriatric population means a greater number of potential patients who may require home infusion therapy for chronic disease management, which ultimately drives the home infusion therapy market.

Technological advancements: The home infusion therapy market is expected to grow at a high rate due to the numerous advantages that technological advancements provide. Patients can move around more freely and independently while receiving therapy because of the smaller, lighter, and more user-friendly designs of more recent portable pump models. In order to improve safety and convenience, real-time data transfer from infusion pumps to healthcare providers allows for remote monitoring of medicine distribution and patient vitals. Automated dose calculations, preprogrammed reminders, and malfunction alarms are just a few of the features that smart infusion pumps provide to increase medication accuracy and lower error rates. These technical developments result in better patient acceptance, a wider range of treatments, greater efficiency for medical professionals, and lower costs, all of which raise demand and fuel the market for home infusion therapy.

Market Restraints

Uncertain Reimbursement Policies: The varied and unclear reimbursement policies from private insurance companies and the government can limit patient access to home infusion therapy. Even though, home infusion therapy is much more affordable to patients rather than receiving in-patient care, there can be high costs associated with certain speciality infusion therapies. These high costs associated with specialty infusion treatment may discourage patients, especially those without adequate insurance coverage. Due to this, the Home Infusion Therapy Market gets affected as it faces resistance from the patients.

Limited Availability of Nurses: A shortage of nurses trained in administering home infusion therapy can pose a challenge. This can limit the number of patients who can receive treatment at home and potentially lead to longer wait times. Long waits can discourage patients from pursuing home infusion therapy altogether. They may opt for alternative treatment options or even delay treatment due to the wait times. To attract and retain qualified nurses, home infusion therapy providers may need to offer higher salaries. This can increase operational costs, potentially leading to higher treatment costs for patients, further impacting market access. A skilled workforce shortage acts as a bottleneck for the home infusion therapy market. It restricts patient access, increases costs, and potentially compromises the quality and safety of care. This can lead to a decline in patient confidence and a slowdown in market growth.

Infrastructure and Accessibility Issues: Availability of home infusion therapy services might be limited in remote or rural areas of Brazil. This can create accessibility issues for patients who may not have easy access to qualified providers and necessary equipment. Also, inadequate cold chain logistics for storing and transporting temperature-sensitive medications can hinder the expansion of home infusion therapy in certain regions. Therefore, the overall home infusion therapy market gets affected.

Regulatory Landscape and Reimbursement Scenario

The Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA), often known as the National Health Surveillance Agency, is the Brazilian regulatory body in charge of approving and monitoring a variety of products, including food, cosmetics, tobacco, medications, health services, and medical devices. ANVISA was created in 1999 and is linked to the Ministry of Health. ANVISA aims to safeguard and advance the public health by conducting health surveillance over goods and services, including procedures, components, and technology that may present health concerns.

Pharmaceutical laboratories and other businesses that are a part of the pharmaceutical production cycle must register their drugs and obtain licenses from ANVISA. The agency is also in charge of creating rules that apply to clinical trials in the areas of subject safety and drug Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (CMC). Additionally, ANVISA collaborates with the Chamber of Drug Market Regulation (CMED) and other ministry members to control pharmaceutical prices. Human clinical trials conducted ethically are overseen by an Ethics Committee (EC) affiliated with the Health Ministry. The agency inspects manufacturers, monitors drug quality, conducts post-marketing surveillance, performs pharmacovigilance activities, and controls drug marketing and promotion in collaboration with states and local governments. Furthermore, ANVISA, in collaboration with the National Industrial Property Institute (INPI), assesses patent requests pertaining to pharmaceutical items and procedures. After becoming an ICH member in November 2016, Brazil sought to facilitate the regulatory approval by implementing the Common Technical Document (CTD) for registration of medicines.

Brazil’s dual-structure healthcare reimbursement system serves both the public and private sectors. All Brazilian citizens and permanent residents are eligible for free at-the-point healthcare coverage through the Unified Health System (SUS). The government provides direct money to SUS facilities and patients do not have their own reimbursement procedure. However, due to financial limitations, SUS may have problems including lengthy wait periods and restricted access to cutting-edge therapies. A significant portion of the population is covered by private health insurance, which provides a greater choice of treatments and faster wait times than SUS. Private insurance firms pay medical providers according to prearranged contracts or schedules of fees. Methods of reimbursement may differ, but usually include: Fee-for-Service (FFS) which provides payment according to the quantity of services rendered; Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) assigns a predetermined cost for treating a certain illness; and in Managed Care Networks, the providers under contract offer discounted services.

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

Here are some of the major key players in the Brazil Home Infusion Therapy Market:

• Poly Medicure
• Baxter International
• ICU Medical (Smiths Medical)
• Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD)
• Fresenius Kabi
• Option Care Health
• Medtronic
• B. Braun Melsungen AG
• Terumo Corporation
• CareFusion Corporation