Brazil PET Scan Market Analysis

Brazil PET Scan Market Executive Summary

The Brazil PET Scan market is at around $48.5 Mn in 2023 and is projected to reach $74.9 Mn in 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period.

A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that produces images of the body’s organs and tissues. PET is a type of nuclear medicine approach as a radioactive chemical called tracer is used for analyzing how the body tissues absorb and use different chemicals in real time. PET evaluates the metabolism of tissues to provide information about their anatomy and physiology as well as their biochemical properties. This is in contrast to other techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and computed tomography (CT) scan which provide images of merely the anatomy of the body. Before the actual PET scan, a tracer is injected into body and once the tracer is absorbed, a ring-shaped scanner is positioned over the body area for scanning. The most commonly used tracer in PET scan is a type of sugar, fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) which is taken up by extensive energy-consuming cells of the body. The tracer is radiolabeled so it emits gamma rays which are detected by the scanner. A computer then analyzes this information to create 3-D images of the body. The radioisotopes used in PET scan to label tracers are 11C, 13N, 15O, and 18F. To produce even more detailed images, nowadays, most PET scans are performed along with MRI and CT scan and this combination is called PET-MRI and PET-CT scan, respectively. The PET scan is usually performed as an outpatient procedure as it consumes only around 1 hour.

Brazil faces a significant healthcare burden due to the rising chronic diseases, especially cancer cases. The age standardized cancer incidence rate according to the WHO Global Cancer Observatory in 2022 was 240.1 and 197.6 in males and females respectively. The Brazil PET Scan Market is thus driven by significant factors such as the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, rising demand for non-invasive diagnostic devices, and increased demand for early diagnosis. However, the high cost, limited availability of radiotracers, and competition from other imaging techniques restrict the growth and potential of the market.

The major players of the Brazil PET Scan Market are Philips Healthcare, Toshiba Medical Systems, Hitachi Medical Systems, Shimadzu, and Mediso Medical Imaging Systems, among others.

Market Dynamics

Market Growth Drivers

Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases: One of the biggest growth drivers of the PET Scan Market is the rising number of chronic diseases, especially cancer. According to Revista Brasileia de Cancerologia, 704 thousand new cancer cases were estimated in 2023 which has led to increased demand for diagnostics and higher healthcare costs in the country. Due to the rise in the number of cancer cases, there is a strong need for early detection. PET scans are not only powerful diagnostic tools but they also play a vital role in the staging the cancer. Staging provides valuable information about the severity and spread of the cancer which is important for planning the treatment course. Especially for the radiation therapy, PET scans help locate the exact cancerous tissues which allows for more targeted therapy. Also, PET scans help distinguish between benign and malignant tumours which prevents unnecessary biopsies. Thus, PET scans offer numerous advantages which allow for early intervention and potentially better treatment outcomes, which ultimately leads to a growth in the market.

Rising Demand for Non-Invasive Diagnostic Devices: Invasive procedures are generally preferred by patients as they cause minimal discomfort and pain. Non-invasive procedures, such as PET scans, avoid incisions and any surgical procedures which leads to increased patient compliance. Also, PET scans are followed by faster recovery times, allowing patients to return to their normal routine much earlier than other procedures. Most importantly, non-invasive procedures carry fewer risks of complications compared to invasive procedures. Overall, the rising demand of non-invasive procedures due to its benefits, fuels the market growth.

Increased Demand for Early Diagnosis: PET scans target the increased metabolic activity of cells, much earlier than the traditional methods of X-rays and CT scans. This leads to earlier diagnosis when treatment options are more likely to be effective. This early detection later creates a domino effect which leads to increased use of PET scans for screening, monitoring response, and improved prognosis. Thus, the focus on early disease detection significantly contributes to the growth of the PET scan market.

Market Restraints

High Cost: PET scans are expensive, often require high initial capital requirements, and the cost includes the scan process, the radiopharmaceuticals that are utilized, and the scanner itself. Some patients and healthcare facilities may find this expensive, especially in areas with limited healthcare budgets. Also, the operational and ongoing maintenance cost adds to this expense. Market expansion may be constrained if these expenses don't decrease or if reimbursement guidelines tighten.

Limited Availability of Radiotracers: Many radiotracers used in PET scans have short half-lives which much be produced and used within a shorter period of time. This also requires proximity to the production facilities for the presence of a cyclotron and radiochemistry lab which might not be possible in rural or undeveloped regions Also, it is difficult to create and distribute radiotracers extensively as it requires advanced technology and stringent adherence to regulations. The inadequate supply of radiotracers has many technical, regulatory, and logistical challenges which prevents the PET scan market from fully growing.

Competition from other Imaging Techniques: Traditional methods such as Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), CT, and MRI scans are well established imaging techniques that compete with the novel PET scans. They are also more cost-effective compared to PET scans which makes them more attractive to patients. Also, in contrast to the PET scans, they are widely available and accessible, which indicates high preference. Therefore, due to the established older imaging techniques, the PET Scan Market suffers.

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 PET Scan Market:

• GE Healthcare
• Siemens Healthineers
• Philips Healthcare
• Toshiba Medical Systems
• Hitachi Medical Systems
• Shimadzu
• Mediso Medical Imaging Systems
• Siemens Healthineers
• Canon Medical Systems
• Esaote
• Neusoft Medical Systems