Malaysia Home Infusion Therapy Market

Malaysia Home Infusion Therapy Market Executive Summary

The Malaysia Home Infusion Therapy market is at around $57.8 Mn in 2023 and is projected to reach $101 Mn in 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.3% during the forecast period.

Home infusion involves the administration of a medication through a needle or catheter at a patient’s home instead of a hospital or other medical facility. For individuals requiring long-term therapy, inpatient care is not only tremendously expensive but also prevents the individual from resuming normal lifestyle and work activities. Home infusion is a safe and effective alternative to inpatient care for a variety of therapies and disease states, both acute and chronic. Conditions commonly requiring infusion therapy include infections that are unresponsive to oral antibiotics, cancer and cancer-related pain, dehydration, gastrointestinal diseases or disorders which prevent normal functioning of the gastrointestinal system, immune system diseases (Crohn’s Disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis) and more. Some infusion treatments require infusions every day, while others may be less frequent such as every few weeks or months. Usually, for the majority of patients and drugs, home infusion is safe. However, home infusion clinicians will evaluate a patient’s suitability for home infusion throughout the intake phase. The evaluation aspects include the safety of the home environment, safety of the medication delivery method, capability to learn and self-manage for patients and/or caregivers, and the capability to store medications. Thus, nurses play a crucial role in home infusion therapy as they train patients and caregivers on how to safely administer the medication, monitor for side effects, and provide ongoing support. Moreover, coordination between a number of parties is usually necessary for the home infusion procedure, including patients, doctors, hospital discharge planners, health plans, home infusion pharmacies, and, home health organizations.

Chronic diseases are a major public health concern in Malaysia, posing significant health and economic challenges. Common chronic diseases among adults include ischaemic heart disease, respiratory infections, cerebrovascular diseases, and diabetes as the leading causes of death and disability in the nation. Therefore, the Malaysia 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 Malaysia Home Infusion Therapy Market are QMed Asia, 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: The increased prevalence of chronic diseases is placing a strain on the healthcare sector in Malaysia. According to a WHO report, it is estimated that 1 in 5 adults are living with diabetes, 1 in 3 are living with hypertension, and almost half are obese. To manage these diseases, home infusion is a safe, effective, and convenient method 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: According to Statista, the share of population older than 65 years in Malaysia has increased continuously from the past decade and in 2022 this population constituted 7.2%. As people age, they are more vulnerable to diseases including diabetes, heart failure, and autoimmune disorders. Many times, these illnesses require long-term care using drugs that may be more efficiently administered via home infusion therapy. Moreover, the aging population is characterized 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 Home Infusion Therapy Market 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 Malaysia 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 Home Infusion Therapy Market is constrained by a lack of competent workers which ultimately slows its 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

In Malaysia, the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) is the regulatory agency for healthcare products, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and traditional health supplements. The NPRA operates under the Ministry of Health to ensure the efficacy, safety, and quality of healthcare products that are available in the nation.

Before new medications, medical equipment, and herbal health supplements can be sold in Malaysia, the NPRA is responsible for examination and market authorization. Strict quality control procedures are implemented to guarantee that medical supplies fulfil the necessary requirements for both efficacy and safety. This includes conducting quality control methods, maintaining laboratories for product testing, and inspecting production facilities. Overall, the NPRA protects the public health in Malaysia by its rigorous and stringent evaluation and oversight procedures.

Malaysia’s healthcare system offers a mix of public and private options for financing medical care. The government of Malaysia provides a highly subsidized public healthcare system. Citizens and permanent residents can receive basic medical care for little to no cost under this system. Although public hospitals provide high-quality healthcare, waiting period may be longer and access to cutting-edge therapies may be more restricted than in private hospitals. Beyond the services public system offers, private health insurance offers additional coverage. It gives users access to a greater variety of services, such as private medical facilities and clinics, specialist consultations, sophisticated diagnostic techniques and processes, and quicker access to medical services

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

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

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