Smart Syringes Market

Market Overview

The global smart syringes market size was valued at USD 8.66 billion in 2022. It is projected to reach USD 18.05 billion by 2031, growing with a CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period (2023–2031). Growing needle stick injuries; a high frequency of blood-borne transmission of hepatitis B, C, and HIV through incorrect injecting practices; increased acceptance of safety syringes; and technological advancements drive market growth. Furthermore, the WHO's mandated recommendations to convert to smart syringes and maintain safe injection procedures are crucial drivers driving the market growth.

Smart syringes are medical devices designed with safety measures to prevent syringe reuse and regulate harmful injection practices. They are created with features including an in-built inactivation mechanism to protect people from needle stick injuries and blood-borne infections. They are used for various applications, such as vaccination, medication delivery, and blood collection.

Market Dynamics

What are the factors driving the market growth?

A Surge in Incidences of Needlestick Injuries

A rise in the number of needlestick injuries significantly impacts the smart syringes market. Because needlestick injuries are the major source of blood-borne infections among healthcare personnel, the impact of this factor is projected to increase during the projection period. These injuries can potentially spread infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Other infections transmitted through needlestick injuries include blastomycosis, brucellosis, diphtheria, herpes, malaria, mycobacteriosis, sporotrichosis, syphilis, and tuberculosis. The implementation of stringent rules governing the use of conventional non-safe syringes and the objective to minimize disease transmission are projected to drive market expansion significantly throughout the forecast period.

Technological Advancements

The global smart syringes market is largely influenced by technological advancements, leading to high success rates in preventing needlestick injuries and minimizing the reuse of syringes. The introduction of advanced technologies with enhanced safety mechanisms and easy-to-use techniques is anticipated to boost the demand for various safety syringes, especially in developing regions. Advancements such as auto-disable (AD) syringes with a locking mechanism have increased safety, affordability, and availability, driving the market growth. Moreover, the surge in the adoption of safe syringes is expected to reduce the treatment cost of blood-borne diseases caused by unsafe injection practices. Therefore, with progress in science and technology, numerous technological advancements in the field of smart syringes, and the high adoption of smart syringes, the market is expected to grow quickly.

What are the factors restraining the market growth?

High Cost and Unaffordability

Smart syringes are more expensive than regular syringes, which limits their global usage. Some types are comparable in price to ordinary single-use syringes, while others, depending on the technological sophistication of the safety mechanism, can cost up to five times as much, making them extremely expensive in some low- and middle-income nations. Furthermore, the significant capital expenditure necessary for the production and maintenance of safety syringes, as well as price volatility due to technologically improved syringes, limit market expansion. However, the influence of this factor is predicted to reduce during the analysis period due to constant technological developments and an increase in the number of smart syringe firms.

Regional Analysis

North America constituted the highest market share for the smart syringes market and is growing with a CAGR of 8.8%. The U.S. market occupied the highest share, owing to the presence of well-established healthcare infrastructure, higher buying power, and stringency of regulations. In addition, a rise in awareness associated with the risk of cross infections and needle stick injuries in the region increased the adoption of safe syringes. In addition, smart syringes play a significant role in vaccinations since these syringes are helpful in preventing seasonal as well as pandemic flu, which stops the spread of diseases from unsafe syringe practices. Furthermore, every year Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a revised schedule for vaccinations recommended for the prevention of several diseases in America, which is expected to create beneficial opportunities for domestic smart syringe manufacturers.

The European region is anticipated to hold the second most position in the global smart syringes market, owing to stricter government regulations and mandatory protection from needle stick injuries to healthcare workers. For instance, as per European Biosafety Network, in the European Union (EU), about one million needle stick injuries occur every year, which is considered one of the most common hazards for all healthcare workers. Thus, to address this problem of injuries, the EU has adopted EU directive 2010/32/EU with the objective of achieving the safest possible working environment for healthcare workers. These initiatives undertaken by unions and associations are all set to increase the demand for smart syringes in the coming years.

Asia Pacific market is anticipated to grow at the highest rate of 10.3%, owing to factors such as a large patient pool, increase in healthcare awareness, rise in healthcare expenditure, growth in disposable income, and government spending. Moreover, domestic companies are fundamentally involved in producing low-cost smart syringes for both international and local consumption. The market in the region is growing at a significant pace, attributed to an increase in needle stick injuries, a rise in awareness by regulatory bodies, improvements in health standards, a surge in disposable incomes, and advancements in technology. In developing economies, the WHO and UN have introduced policies and standards for the procurement, safe disposal, and safe usage of syringes. This leads to a recommendation strategy for manufacturers of safety syringes to expand or begin production of these syringes as soon as possible, which meets quality, safety, and standards of performance in accordance with the regulatory organizations. These factors drive the growth of the smart syringes market in Asia-Pacific.

Brazil majorly contributes to the market growth in LAMEA, owing to an increase in awareness related to diseases borne from unsafe use of syringes as well as an increase in the contribution of governments in technological advancements in the healthcare industry. Moreover, the WHO has implemented programs in countries such as Egypt, Tanzania, Vietnam, and South Africa to reduce incidences of needle stick injuries. These programs were carried out through hospitals & HMOs, clinics, and general health care settings by aligning with the national nursing associations to bring changes. The smart syringes market in LAMEA is still in its nascent phase, as the region lacks the buying power needed to purchase smart syringes. However, there is a huge burden of needle stick injuries in the region, thus the need for adequate education and awareness programs regarding prevention and risks associated with needle stick injuries. Regulatory bodies such as the WHO, UNICEF, and Red Cross are working toward reducing needle stick injuries and cross infections by promoting smart syringes in the LAMEA region.

Segmental Analysis

The market is segmented on the basis of product, application, age group, end user, and region.

The product segment is categorized into auto-disable syringes, active safety syringes, and passive safety syringes.

The active safety syringe accounts for the highest revenue. Active safety syringe works on a syringe safety system activated by users or clinicians. Active safety systems are usually associated with shields or caps, which are devices that cover the needle for protection after activation. These syringes aid in lowering incidences of needlestick injuries, owing to their safety mechanism. Active safety syringes are used more widely than passive safety syringes and AD syringes, owing to their ease-to-use and safety features that provide optimum protection to patients & healthcare employees, therefore, reducing the risk of needlestick injuries.

The global smart syringes market, by application, is divided into drug delivery, vaccination, and blood specimen collection.

The drug delivery segment generates the highest revenue. Syringes are widely used to deliver the desired drug into the body of patients. Therefore, in many conditions, the injection mode of drug delivery is preferred over oral, topical, and inhaled drug delivery methods. Injected drugs show better pharmacokinetics as compared to other forms of dosage. During injection, there is a risk of cross-infection and needle stick injury to patients as well as caregivers. Hence, smart syringes are being adopted in drug delivery to avoid such risks, which, in turn, boosts market growth.

Depending on the age group, the smart syringes market is segmented into pediatrics and adults.

Pediatrics is the most profitable segment, with a CAGR of 9.8%, owing to an increase in the number of pediatric populations aged 0 to 18 years, as this age group is more prone to transmitted illnesses. In 2014, more than 200 children and adults in Cambodia tested positive for HIV as a result of the improper use of disposable syringes. As a result, the WHO announced in 2015 that by 2020, every hospital and clinic should use smart syringes. As a result, this initiative is expected to enhance demand for smart syringes among healthcare professionals, hence boosting market growth.

By end user, the market is classified into hospitals & HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations), diabetic patients, family practices, psychiatrists, and others.

The hospitals & HMOs segment was the highest contributor to the market. Hospitals that are publicly or privately owned, multinational hospitals and specialty hospitals widely use smart syringes for various purposes such as vaccination, drug delivery, blood specimen collection, and others. These hospitals, especially in developed countries, have mandated the use of smart syringes to substitute conventional syringes to prevent reuse. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is an organization that provides, arranges, or manages a wide range of healthcare services for a patient through a network of providers. As smart syringes are covered under HMO plans, patients, doctors, and other healthcare workers can easily give preference to smart syringes over traditional ones, even when the cost is high.

Recent Developments

• September 2022- Becton, Dickinson, and Company launched a next-generation glass prefillable syringe that raises the bar for vaccine syringe performance with new and strengthened specifications for processability, contamination, and integrity.
• August 2022- Baxter International Inc., a leader in breakthrough medicine delivery technology, announced FDA approval of its new Novum IQ syringe infusion pump (SYR) with Dose IQ Safety Software, representing Baxter's most recent infusion therapy advances.