Originally Published EMDM March/April 2005
Market Watch
Making the Case for Safety Syringes
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Syringe-based injection devices are second only to oral drugs for the delivery of medication. More than 12 billion units are produced annually for the world market, according to Greystone Associates, a consulting firm based in Amherst, NH, USA. The market will continue to grow for the remainder of this decade, notes the firm, partly driven by new drug formulations that cannot go through the digestive tract. But there is a well-documented downside to this drug-delivery method.
A staggering one million needlestick injuries occur in Europe each year, according to a report on the European safety syringe market published by Frost & Sullivan (London, UK). Between 16 and 25% of those incidents involve single-use syringes. Yet safety syringes have barely made a dent in the European marketplace. This situation is unlikely to change, says report author Kavitha Ravikumar, until legislation is passed mandating the use of safety syringes. This is one instance where the European Union would be well advised to look across the pond for inspiration.
The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act signed into law in the United States in 2000 is the first true legislation mandating the use of safety syringes, says Ravikumar. “No legislation has come into effect in Europe,” she adds. “Only Germany has issued a broad directive, which states quite clearly that safe-usage devices should be provided. But it does not have the force of law.”
In the United States, healthcare personnel were instrumental in pushing this legislation forward, says Ravikumar. Public pressure may also be a driver in Europe, she believes. Safety syringe manufacturers should consider supporting groups lobbying for such laws and simultaneously work at raising awareness of safety issues, she stresses. The minute that a law is passed, adds Ravikumar, the market will surge.
Although it is estimated that more than 50% of ordinary syringes could be replaced by safety products, the uptake thus far has been an unimpressive 2.5%. Syringes are a commodity item, and safety syringes are quite expensive, especially in markets where the focus is on cost containment, Ravikumar explains.
Several companies have developed safe syringe technologies—and further advances are in the pipeline. Combining this with economies of scale can lead to a long-term increase in market penetration. But to achieve critical mass, there must be greater awareness of the issue. EUCOMED’s call for Europe-wide legislation is a good start, says Ravikumar. And there have been indications that a safety component ultimately may be included in an update of medical device directive 93/42/EC, she adds.
An overview of Ravikumar’s “Strategic Analysis of the European Safety Syringes Market” can be requested by e-mailing katja.feick@frost.com.
Copyright ©2005 European Medical Device Manufacturer
