Medical Drones Global Market Report 2024

The medical drones market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.31 billion in 2023 to $1.55 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.7%. The growth observed in the historical period can be credited to several factors, including the utilization of medical drones for emergency medical response, addressing the inaccessibility of remote areas, reducing transport time in critical situations, responding to global health crises, and regulatory support for drone operations in the healthcare sector.

The medical drones market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18%. The anticipated growth in the forecast period is linked to several factors, including the integration of artificial intelligence, the expansion of telemedicine services, enhanced payload capabilities of medical drones, a heightened focus on last-mile delivery in healthcare, and the evolution of the regulatory environment supporting drone operations. Noteworthy trends expected in the forecast period encompass increased collaborations and partnerships, continuous improvement in drone technology, the development of automated drone stations, the implementation of temperature-controlled transport for pharmaceuticals, and the application of medical drones in humanitarian and disaster response efforts.

The government's financial support for medical drones is expected to drive the growth of the medical drone market in the future. Medical drones, also known as medical transport drones, are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) specifically designed and employed for medical purposes within the healthcare sector. Government funding for medical drones involves financial assistance from government agencies or authorities to develop, implement, or expand the use of drones for medical and healthcare applications. For example, in November 2022, as reported by the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, a UK-based government department, the UK government initiated approximately $14.38 million (12 million pounds sterling) across 24 innovative projects aimed at eliminating regulatory barriers and supporting companies in introducing products and services, including medical drones. Additionally, in July 2022, the same department disclosed a $324 million (273 million pounds sterling) investment in aircraft innovation, encompassing the development of drones capable of transporting medical supplies. Consequently, government funding for medical drones is a key driver propelling the growth of the medical drone market.

The increasing incidence of natural disasters is anticipated to further contribute to the growth of the medical drones market. Natural disasters, characterized by devastating events caused by natural factors, present challenges such as significant loss of life, infrastructure damage, and environmental destruction. Medical drones play a crucial role in these situations by delivering medical supplies to inaccessible areas and facilitating public safety and medical assistance in disaster management. For example, in January 2023, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), a US-based government agency, the United States experienced 18 different weather-related disasters in 2022, each with a minimum economic impact of $1 billion. These disasters included 2 tornado outbreaks, 3 tropical cyclones, and 9 severe weather or hail occurrences. Consequently, the increasing frequency of natural disasters is a significant factor driving the growth of the medical drones market.

Stringent government regulations pose a significant challenge, restricting the growth of the medical drones market. Government regulations encompass rules and laws established by authorities to regulate various aspects of society and industries, including safety, consumer protection, environment, public health, finance, labor, competition, trade, and more. These regulations cover areas such as drone operations, safety standards, privacy concerns, and the need for extensive approvals and compliance measures. As a result, compliance costs, approval delays, and limited operational flexibility can hinder the adoption and expansion of medical drone services, impeding market growth. Notably, according to the Mercatus Center, a US-based non-profit research center, impediments to the growth of the drone industry include Part 107 regulations in the US, restricting commercial drone operations, spectrum policy challenges for reliable communication, outdated airspace design conflicting with property rights, and concerns over privacy and security related to drone use, particularly regarding Chinese-made drones and potential surveillance and espionage issues. Therefore, stringent government regulations act as a restraint on the growth of the medical drones market.

Major companies in the medical drone market are actively developing innovative networks incorporating advanced technologies, such as medical drone delivery networks, to revolutionize healthcare and enhance the delivery of medical supplies. Medical drone delivery networks are systematic approaches designed to transport medical supplies, equipment, and organs using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones. For example, in September 2022, the CAELUS consortium, led by AGS Airport, a UK-based airport company, in collaboration with NHS Scotland, a Scotland-based government agency, launched the second phase of the UK’s first medical drone delivery network. This groundbreaking network facilitates the transportation of essential medicines, blood, and other medical supplies throughout Scotland, including remote communities. It ensures the efficient delivery of critical medical supplies, thereby reducing waiting times for test results and improving overall healthcare logistics.

In October 2022, Sierra Nevada Corp., a US-based company specializing in the manufacture of large uncrewed aircraft, successfully acquired Volansi for an undisclosed amount. This strategic acquisition is driven by Sierra Nevada's objective to broaden its portfolio in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sector, specifically focusing on the development of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones designed for specialized missions. Volansi Inc., the company acquired by Sierra Nevada, is based in the United States and is recognized for its expertise in developing logistics solutions that leverage autonomous drone deliveries to facilitate long-distance and time-critical shipments.

Major companies operating in the medical drones market report are DHL International GmbH, United Parcel Service Inc., Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Airbus SE, Bell Textron Inc., AeroVironment Inc., Zipline International Inc., Parrot SA, Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Wing Aviation LLC, Avy B.V., Freefly Systems Inc., Vayu Inc., Guangzhou EHang Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd., AT&T Intellectual Property, Ascent Aerosystems Inc., EHang Holdings Ltd., Aquiline Drones Corporation, Draganfly Inc., Wingcopter GmbH, Matternet Inc., Skyfarer Ltd., Inova Drone Inc., Volocopter GmbH, TSAW Drones.

North America was the largest region in the medical drones market in 2023. The regions covered in the medical drones market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the medical drone market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Medical drones, also referred to as healthcare drones or medical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are unmanned aircraft specifically designed and utilized for diverse medical and healthcare purposes. These drones come equipped with specialized features, technologies, and payload capacity to facilitate a range of healthcare applications.

The primary categories of medical drones include fixed-wing, rotor drones, and hybrid drones. A fixed-wing drone, also recognized as a fixed-wing unmanned aerial system (UAS), is an unmanned aircraft that operates without a human pilot on board and features rigid, fixed wings akin to traditional fixed-wing aircraft. These drones are classified based on their capacities, including below 2 kg, 2-4 kg, and above 4 kg. They find applications in various medical scenarios such as emergency blood logistics, transportation of medical drugs and vaccines, emergency organ logistics, among others. These medical drones are utilized by a diverse set of end-users, including hospitals, blood banks, government institutions, and others.

The medical drone market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides medical drones market statistics, including medical drones industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a medical drones market share, detailed medical drones market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the medical drones industry. This medical drone market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The medical drone market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as emergency medical response, medical supply delivery, and aerial medical imaging services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included. The medical drone market consists of sales of emergency medical response drones, medical supply delivery drones, search and rescue drones, and vaccine distribution drones. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.


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