Japan Home Infusion Therapy Market

Japan Home Infusion Therapy Market Executive Summary

The Japan Home Infusion Therapy market is at around $2235.2 Mn in 2023 and is projected to reach $3982.3 Mn in 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.6% 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.

The disease burden in Japan is particularly high for cardiovascular disease, cancer, mental illness, diabetes, and gastrointestinal disease. About 82% of the total number of deaths are due to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which highlights this burden. Therefore, the Japan Home Infusion Therapy Market is 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 Japan Home Infusion Therapy Market are Terumo Corporation, Nipro Corporation, 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: Home infusion is a safe and effective method to manage chronic conditions as it is convenient which leads to improved patient adherence and treatment outcomes. For example, chemotherapy medications can be safely given to cancer patients at home, which lowers hospital stays and enhances patient comfort while receiving treatment. For patients with extensive diabetes care needs, insulin or other drugs can also be administered at home by infusion. Consequently, there is an increasing need for novel and efficient treatment approaches due to the increased prevalence of chronic illnesses. Because of its affordability, flexibility to different chronic conditions, and ease of use, home infusion therapy is becoming more and more popular as a means of managing chronic illnesses and enhancing patient quality of life, which is driving the market’s overall expansion.

Expanding Geriatric Population: Japan is regarded as an aging nation, with 24.2% of its people being 65 years of age or older in 2022. People are more prone to long-term illnesses including diabetes, heart failure, and autoimmune disorders as they age. Many times, these illnesses necessitate long-term care using drugs that may be efficiently administered at home via infusion therapy. Moreover, the aging population is marked by a decline in mobility, which makes regular hospital visits difficult. A practical substitute is home infusion therapy, which enables patients to receive treatment in the comfort of their own homes, enhancing their quality of life and lessening the strain on caregivers. Furthermore, hospital environments can raise the risk of infection for older persons, who are more vulnerable to illnesses. However, home infusion therapy can improve patient outcomes by lowering the chance of contracting infections acquired outside of a hospital. The market for home infusion therapy is ultimately driven by the number of potential patients who may need it to manage chronic diseases, which is generally increased with the aging population.

Technological advancements: The home infusion therapy market is expected to grow at a high rate due to the numerous advantages that technological advancements provide. When compared to conventional intravenous infusion techniques, wearable infusion devices provide patients more flexibility and comfort by enabling continuous or long-term drug delivery subcutaneously. Improved insertion methods, a lower risk of infection, and longer wear periods are all provided by advanced catheter technologies, which increase patient comfort and treatment compliance. 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: One of the major challenges of home infusion therapy is the shortage of trained nurses which results in fewer people being able to receive care at home and lengthier wait times. Prolonged wait times eventually prevents patients from using home infusion therapy and choose an alternative treatment. To attract and retain qualified healthcare professions, providers of home infusion therapy may need to offer higher salaries. This increases the operating expenses, which leads to overall high cost of the treatment, further restricting the market access. Thus, the market for home infusion therapy is constrained by a lack of competent workers which ultimately slows the market growth.

Infrastructure and Accessibility Issues: In isolated or rural places, the availability of home infusion therapy services may be restricted. Patients who do not have access to qualified clinicians and necessary equipment for the home infusion therapy suffer. Additionally, the growth of home infusion therapy in some areas may not have sufficient cold chain logistics for the storage and transportation of temperature-sensitive drugs. As a result, this impacts the expansion of the home infusion therapy market as a whole.

Regulatory Landscape and Reimbursement Scenario

The PMDA (Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency) is Japanese regulatory agency, working together with Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Their core purpose is to ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of the pharmaceuticals and medical devices in the Japan.

The PMDA conducts thorough review and evaluation of the new drugs based on safety, quality, and efficacy seeking marketing authorization in Japan. This minimizes the risk of patients experiencing adverse effects from medications or faulty medical devices. The PMDA’s responsibility extends beyond granting market authorization and includes post-marketing surveillance for reporting any adverse drug reactions.  As a founding country, Japan is an important member in the development and application of ICH (International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use) guidelines. The PMDA regularly participates in ICH meetings and contributes to establishing harmonized standards for the pharmaceutical industry. Japanese pharmaceutical companies can expedite the registration of their products in Japan and other ICH member nations by following ICH rules. This makes it easier for innovative drugs to be marketed internationally more quickly.

The reimbursement system in Japan plays a crucial role in balancing access to care with affordability. The majority of Japanese citizens are covered by the National Health Insurance (NHI), a government-mandated insurance scheme. For inpatient and outpatient services at approved medical facilities, NHI reimburses a significant percentage of medical expenses. However, deductibles and copayments may be necessary based on the service, the patient’s age, and income. Government subsidies are provided for certain services, such long-term care and some chronic conditions, the government offers extra funding. In comparison to NHI, voluntary private insurance policies may provide more coverage and better reimbursement rates. These plans can pay for expenses that NHI does not cover, such as sophisticated procedures and diagnostics, shorter waiting times for some medical procedures, and individual hospital rooms.

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

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

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