Malaria Diagnostics Market

Market Overview

The Total Addressable Market (TAM) for Malaria Diagnostics was valued at USD 762.19 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach an expected value of USD 1192.58 million by 2031, registering a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period (2023-2031).

In recent times, owing to the initiatives of the government's increasing reach of diagnostic facilities, among others, the demand for diagnostic tools in malaria-endemic regions has increased significantly and driving the growth in the malaria diagnostics market. According to World Health Organization's 2020 report, malaria is a preventable and treatable disease that claims thousands of lives every year. With the early diagnosis of malaria through various diagnostic techniques/methods available in the market, these lives can be saved, healthcare burden from malaria can be reduced drastically, which will further boost the growth of the studied market. Additionally, factors such as increasing awareness, technological advancements, and efficient diagnostics, scale-up of rapid diagnostics will also play a role in the growth of the studied market. In contrast, the increasing number of malaria-free countries and rising demand for low-cost diagnostics tools will impede the growth of the global market over the forecast period of the study.

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Growing Demand for Diagnostic Tools in Malaria-endemic Regions

According to the World Malaria Report of 2020 published by the World Health Organization, there were about 87 malaria-endemic countries around the world in 2019, of which 29 accounted for 95% of the malaria cases globally. Five significant countries which accounted for about 51% of the total malaria cases globally are Nigeria (27%), the Democratic Republic of Congo (12%), Uganda (5%), Mozambique (4%), and Niger (3%). This high prevalence of malaria in these regions is driving the demand for advanced and effective malaria diagnostic tools and kits which can significantly reduce the high mortality due to malaria upon early diagnosis and is expected to fuel the growth of the studied market. 

Furthermore, the initiatives from the respective countries and the World Health Organization for the eradication of malaria in different parts of the world are further expected to boost the growth of the malaria diagnostics market as they are not only running awareness programs but also providing funds for diagnosis and treatment of malaria in those countries. Therefore, due to the factors mentioned above, there is expected to be high demand for malaria diagnostic tools in the malaria endemic regions, which will fuel the growth of the global market over the forecast period of the study.

Increasing Technological Advancements and Efficient Diagnostics

Over the years, owing to the demand for an effective and efficient diagnostic tool for malaria diagnosis due to its high burden on the healthcare system of various malaria-endemic countries, companies, as well as government institutions, invested heavily in the research and development of the effective diagnostic technique for early diagnosis of malaria which led to a number technological advancements in the area and improved the efficiency of the diagnostic which is still in progress and is further expected to boost the growth of the global market over the forecast period.

Additionally, the launch of novel and advanced products and the integration of machine learning in the diagnostics tools will further enhance the tests' accuracy and augment the studied market's growth. For instance, a commercial molecular diagnostic test for the detection of malaria brought to market by Plasmodium vivax parasites was made available in April 2019 by Human Diagnostics Worldwide (HUMAN), EIKEN CHEMICAL CO. LTD (EIKEN), and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND). More than half of malaria cases outside of sub-Saharan Africa are caused by Plasmodium vivax, the most geographically widespread of the five malaria species. However, control strategies have, up to this point, been centered on Plasmodium falciparum, which is anticipated to increase the detection of malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax and drive market growth.

Market Restraint

Increasing Number of Malaria-free Countries

The rapid decline in malaria cases is a significant factor restraining the growth of the studied market and leading to an increase in the number of malaria-free countries around the world. For instance, as per the World Malaria Report of 2020, cases of malaria have reduced from 238 million in 2000 reported in 108 countries to 229 million in 2019 reported in 87 countries, of which 46 countries reported less than 10,000 cases of malaria in 2019 while 26 countries in 2000 reported malaria cases less than 10,000; while the incidence of malaria decreased from 80 (per 1000) in 2000 to 57 in 2019.

As per the source mentioned above, in the South-East Asia region, India contributed to the most considerable absolute reductions, from about 20 million cases in 2000 to about 5.6 million in 2019, while deaths due to malaria reduced by 74%, from about 35,000 in 2000 to 9,000 in 2019, mainly because of government initiatives, awareness campaigns and World Health Organization's malaria eradication program in the country. The number of malaria cases and deaths is further expected to decrease due to ongoing initiatives, further weakening the malaria diagnostics market as India accounts for about 88% of malaria cases and 86% of deaths in the region.

Market Opportunities

Scale-up of Rapid Diagnostic Tests and Universal Access to Diagnosis

The scaling-up of malaria rapid diagnostic tests and increasing universal access to malaria diagnosis worldwide will further fuel the growth of the malaria diagnostics market as scaling-up will drive the demand for more diagnostic tests for malaria. In contrast, universal access to diagnosis will increase the reach of malaria diagnosis in remote and resource-deficit areas leading to the massive demand for malaria diagnosis. Thus, these factors will also drive market growth.

Rapid diagnostics tests are one of the most effective tests for the malaria parasite. They can provide results in about 20 minutes or even less and, thus, are one of the most prominent tools in the malaria diagnostic in the regions where malaria diagnosis is still being performed based on symptoms that are inaccurate and non-reliable. Thus, the world is calling for scaling up rapid diagnostic tests for malaria to achieve their goal of reduction in cases of malaria. Also, the increasing government initiatives for improving diagnostic access to remote areas and awareness programs against malaria are further expected to boost the growth of the global market over the forecast period. For instance, on World Mosquito Day, in August 2020, awareness campaigns about malaria were launched in the villages near Kanpur district, India. Therefore, due to the factors mentioned above, the malaria diagnostics market is expected to grow over the forecast period of the study.

Regional Analysis

By region, the global malaria diagnostics market is segmented into America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. 

Africa accounted for the largest market share and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period. According to the World Health Organization's report, published in 2020, 29 countries accounted for 95% of malaria cases globally, of which the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounted for around 12%. Moreover, approximately 95% of all malaria deaths globally were in 31 countries, of which the country accounted for 11%. As per the same source, there were 20,480,310 presumed and confirmed cases of malaria in the country in 2019, which increased from 18,208,440 cases in 2018. This is expected to increase even more in the future, which may boost the growth of the studied market. On World Malaria Day 2021, the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) joined the "Zero Malaria – Draw the Line Against Malaria" campaign with the goal of malaria elimination. The EDCTP has invested more than EUR 150 million toward malaria research and development to support a portfolio of 64 research projects conducted by African-European consortia and research fellows in Africa. Clinton Health Access Initiative Inc. (CHAI) began work in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2016. It is working to reduce the deaths from malaria, one of the leading causes of mortality for children under five years of age. CHAI provides operational support for 20 countries to proliferate their diagnostic testing and increase their access to treatment. These efforts will help improve case management and sustainable responses across Africa. Considering the abovementioned factors, the market is expected to witness growth over the forecast period.

Asia Pacific and the Middle East is the second largest region. It is anticipated to reach an expected value of USD 1450 million by 2031, registering a CAGR of 6.3%. The Indian healthcare system is improving with the growing economy. The demand for malaria diagnosis is increasing in the country due to the burden of malaria. The World Malaria Report (WMR) 2020 released by WHO indicates that India accounted for about 86% of all malaria deaths in the WHO South-East Asia Region. India has made considerable progress in reducing its malaria burden. India is the only high-endemic country that has reported a decline of 17.6% in 2019 as compared to 2018. By the NSP 2017–2022, WHO assisted the nation in accelerating activities to eliminate malaria in the states. In July 2019, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh became the first four high-endemic states to implement the WHO's High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) strategy. The Government of India increased its support as a donor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in 2019 and increased funding for the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme by more than 25%. Moreover, in 2019, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) launched the Malaria Elimination Research Alliance (MERA), a conglomeration of partners working on malaria control, to plan and scale-up research to eliminate the disease in India by 2030. Hence, looking at the overall scenario, India is anticipated to have notable growth in the market studied.

Americas is the third largest region. Malaria cases have increased drastically over the recent decades. In Venezuela, the malaria epidemic and migration from Venezuela into neighboring countries have made malaria a regional problem. Using WHO data from 2018 to 2020, the Venezuelan Society of Public Health NGO claims that the nation has the highest regional malaria case density. More than half of all malaria cases in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia in 2019 (400,000 cases) occurred in Venezuela. According to January 2021 article 'Malaria in Southern Venezuela: The hottest hotspot in Latin America' shows that the total number of accumulated cases of malaria in Venezuela during the sampled decade was 1,207,348 (range: 32,037–411,586), with overall malaria incidence rates (cases/1,000 inhabitants-year) increasing from 5.2 (2007) to 28 (2017). Malaria incidence increased nearly 10-fold from 41,749 in 2007 to around 411,586 cases in 2017. For instance, the global investment in fighting AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria did not consider Venezuela eligible for malaria funding until 2019. However, in November 2019, due to continuing concern about the public health crisis in Venezuela, it was made eligible for global fund funding for malaria only for the 2020-2022 allocation period under GF/B41/EDP06, and its adverse impact on to fight against HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria in Venezuela and based on the recommendation of the strategy committee approved the investment to provide an additional USD 6,000,000 for the year 2020, to support the procurement of critical HIV, TB, and malaria health products for Venezuela. All these factors are expected to boost the market growth during the forecast period.

Segmental Analysis

The global malaria diagnostics market is segmented by technology and region.

On the Basis of Technology

By technology, the global market is segmented into microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests, molecular diagnostic tests, and other technologies. The microscopy segment accounted for the largest market share and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period. The microscopy technique remains the gold standard for laboratory confirmation of malaria. Microscopy continues to play a vital role in malaria diagnosis and research studies. While the advent of rapid diagnostic tests has reduced their importance as a primary diagnostic test in routine practice in some countries, microscopy remains an essential tool to support clinical research. Malaria parasites that include the parasites, such as P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale, and P. vivax, at different stages of life can be identified through this method. Furthermore, the parasite density can be quantified to accordingly design treatment plans. From a laboratory systems perspective, microscopy is advantageous because it has applications for other diseases and is widely available. Microscopy performed on stained films of peripheral blood for detection, identification, and quantification of malaria parasites is an essential reference standard for clinical trials of drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic tests for malaria, which may increase its demand in research, thus, boosting the market growth.

Recent Developments

• September 2022- The patent foramen ovale (PFO), a hole in the heart that doesn't close after birth, is used to treat people who have had a stroke and are at risk of having another. Abbott today announced the launch of its AmplatzerTM TalismanTM PFO Occlusion System in Europe. To save doctors time and simplify the system, the new Talisman PFO occluders are pre-attached to the delivery cable.
• September 2022 - Abbott today announced new data from the Real World Evidence of FreeStyle Libre (RELIEF) study showing the use of FreeStyle Libre, a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM), significantly reduced the rate of hospitalizations due to acute diabetes events (ADEs) for people living with Type 2 diabetes on once-daily (basal) insulin therapy.1 These findings were published in the Journal of Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics and presented at the 58th Annual European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting.