There’s a need for better access to medical technology in the region—a forward-looking approach will help companies reach more patients.

More than half the world’s population lives in the Asia–Pacific region, and demand for healthcare there is correspondingly great. Currently, access to quality healthcare—in particular, modern medical technology, or med-tech—is difficult for many patients. Healthcare demand already outstrips supply in Asia–Pacific, and the gap will grow in line with continued increases in income, population, disease burdens, and general awareness of health issues.

A recent McKinsey report, MedTech in Asia: Committing at scale to raise standards of care for patients, explores the challenges med-tech companies face in broadening their reach and identifies strategies that can help bring high-quality products and services to more patients. Companies that overcome obstacles to serving broader patient segments in the region will also unlock rich opportunities.

The region’s healthcare needs reflect its size and growth projections, and the Asia–Pacific med-tech market is expected to rise to about $133 billion a year in 2020, from about $88 billion a year in 2015. (For a visual look at the problems facing healthcare delivery in the Asia–Pacific region, as well as opportunities for global med-tech companies to address the growing demands, download our infographic [PDF–74KB].)