The share of people aged over 65 years in the global population is expected to increase from 9.6% in 2020 to 11.8% in 2030, according to GlobalData, placing additional strain on already stretched healthcare infrastructure. The leading data and analytics company notes that healthcare providers will need to increase investment in medical robots such as care robots and surgical robots, exoskeletons, and microrobots by 2030 to manage the growing demand for hospital beds and labor as the global population ages.

Care robots to account for major share in medical robot revenue by 2030

GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Tech in 2030 – Thematic Intelligence’, reveals that the share of care robots in medical robot revenue is set to rise from 1% in 2020 to 28% by 2030.

Jemima Walker, Thematic Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Traditionally, surgical robots were always the focus of the medical robotics industry. However, GlobalData expects a real boost in the care robots sector. Not only will care robots dramatically cut down the cost of nursing elderly patients and provide emotional support, but they will also relieve nurses of repetitive tasks. This extra time will be vital to handle high volumes of patients.”

Surgical robot market set to grow while exoskeletons aid recovery after surgery

The surgical robot market is also set to grow, reaching $14.5 billion in 2030. These systems will fill the growing demand for less invasive surgical interventions such as cardiovascular operations. GlobalData’s report also predicts that exoskeletons will regularly be used for patient rehabilitation following trauma such as surgery or a stroke. This will lead the exoskeleton market revenue to rise to $10.1 billion by 2030.

Walker continues: “By 2030, healthcare providers will need to invest in robotics, not only to make up for the increased demand for care, but also to fill the gaps in the workforce. Surgical robots will provide minimally invasive surgery support, freeing up surgeons for more complex procedures. This approach will also reduce recovery times, and, therefore, hospital stay length.”

Microrobots to revolutionize central nervous system disease treatment

Continued innovation in robotics will expand the number and types of procedures that are able to be performed by robots. Microrobots are expected to have reached the market by 2030, with particular use in drug delivery, micro-surgery, and diagnostics.

Walker adds: “Microrobots are arguably one of the most exciting developments in medical robotics. These devices will be used to operate on individual cells and perform minimally invasive surgery. By 2030, this is expected to revolutionize options for treating central nervous system diseases.”