Disability Devices Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

Market Overview

The disability devices market is expected to register a CAGR of around 5.6% over the forecast period, 2022-2027.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the disability devices market. As per an April 2020 published article titled "Covid-19 And The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities: Guidance" by the United Nations, during the COVID-19 crisis, people with disabilities who are dependent on support for their daily living may find themselves isolated and unable to survive during lockdown measures, while those living in institutions are particularly vulnerable, as evidenced by the overwhelming numbers of deaths in residential care homes and psychiatric facilities. Thus, several measures were recommended during the pandemic to enhance services for the disabled. For instance, as per a World Health Organization (WHO) 2020 article titled, "Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak", actions need to be taken to ensure that people with disabilities can always access healthcare services and public health information they require, including during the COVID-19 outbreak. This indicates that the demand for disability devices is likely to increase during the pandemic phase, thus, having a positive impact on the market growth.

Furthermore, the growth of the market can be attributed to factors such as the growing burden of disability and the rising number of initiatives pertaining to disability.

The growing burden of disability is driving the demand for several types of disability devices. For instance, as per a November 2021 update by the WHO, more than 1 billion people are estimated to experience disability. As per the same source, this corresponds to about 15% of the world's population, with up to 190 million (3.8%) people aged 15 years and older having significant difficulties in functioning, often requiring health care services. As per the same source, to improve access to and coverage of health services for people with disabilities, WHO guides and supports the Member States to increase awareness of disability issues and promotes the inclusion of disability as a component in national and sub-national health programs. The source also reports that WHO facilitates the collection and dissemination of disability-related data and information and develops normative tools, including guidelines to strengthen disability inclusion within health care services. It also states that the number of people with disabilities is dramatically increasing. This is due to demographic trends and increases in chronic health conditions, among other causes. Thus, the demand for disability devices among the patient population is expected to increase over the coming period.

However, the high cost of devices is a major factor restraining the growth of the disability device market.

Scope of the Report

As per the scope of the report, disability devices are used to improve and maintain a person's functioning, facilitate participation in activities and enhance overall well-being. The market is segmented by device type (vision aids, hearing aids, mobility aids, and other devices types), end user (home care settings, hospitals, ambulatory care centers, and rehabilitation centers), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa and South America). The market report also covers the estimated market sizes and trends for 17 different countries across major regions globally. The report offers the value (in USD million) for the above segments.

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Key Market Trends

Mobility Aids Segment is Expected to Hold a Major Market Share in the Disability Devices Market

By device type, the mobility aids segment is expected to hold a major share of the market. A mobility aid is a device designed to assist in walking or otherwise improve the mobility of people with a mobility impairment. There are a variety of walking aids available to assist people with impaired walking ability, as well as wheelchairs or mobility scooters for more severe disabilities or longer journeys that would otherwise be undertaken on foot. The types of mobility devices available in the market include canes, crutches, wheelchairs, and walkers, among others types of mobility devices.

The factors boosting the growth of this segment in the market are the increasing number of product launches as well as the rising number of initiatives along with the growing burden of disability worldwide. For instance, as per an October 2020 update by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), around 1 in 6 (18%) people in Australia, or about 4.4 million people, have a disability.

In addition, in June 2021, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) launched global mobility aids action group to examine and improve the transport journey of mobility aids, including wheelchairs, to improve the handling of such devices for travelers with disabilities. Furthermore, research and development are contributing to the segment's growth. For instance, in August 2021, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, India, developed India’s first indigenous motorized wheelchair vehicle that can be used not only on roads but even on uneven terrain. Moreover, several market players are also engaged in the implementation of strategic initiatives, thereby contributing to the segment's growth. For instance, in August 2021, Invacare Corporation announced the launch of the Invacare AVIVA STORM RXT power wheelchair, establishing a new standard for rear-wheel-drive power mobility.

Thus, due to the above-mentioned developments, the segment is expected to witness growth over the forecast period.

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