Increasing Prevalence of Sudden Cardiac Arrests in Aging Population
The African market of resuscitation devices is affected by the increasing number of sudden cardiac arrests that occur owing to the aging population. In countries such as South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco, there is a growing number of heart conditions that cause sudden cardiac arrest, such as coronary artery disease and heart failure. Due to the increasing life expectancy and noncommunicable diseases, healthcare facilities are facing increased demand for new types of resuscitation devices such as AEDs, manual resuscitators, and portable cardiac monitors.
However, in urban areas such as Johannesburg, Cairo, and Lagos, resuscitation in hospital tertiary care is characterized by the availability of highly efficient resuscitation tools that have high performance when it comes to responding to heart emergencies. The emergency departments in these centers have access to advanced equipment that gives feedback during CPR processes and integrates well with monitoring systems used after the resuscitation process. With this increasing emphasis on early resuscitation, there will be a greater need for resuscitation tools that can be relied upon.
The need for these resuscitation tools in rural and semi-urban settings is brought about by a lack of easy access to emergency services. Therefore, many mobile health units as well as regional clinics have portable devices for use in case of cardiac arrest. The resuscitation devices used in such locations are not only highly durable but also efficient in giving instant results when used. With the increase in elderly people in Africa, resuscitation tools will continue to be needed.
Expansion of telemedicine-guided resuscitation programs
Telemedicine-assisted resuscitation initiatives are contributing to growth in the resuscitation devices market in Africa. Regional hospitals in countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana have teamed up with tertiary hospitals in urban centers to assist with cardiac emergencies via telemedicine consultations. Using video conferencing facilities, healthcare professionals will be able to assist paramedics and less skilled healthcare workers in properly administering CPR using resuscitation devices and manually operated resuscitators.
Emergency control centers in Nairobi, Lagos, and Accra are working in conjunction with ambulances, primary care facilities, and clinics to monitor patients' vitals and coordinate resuscitation efforts and hospital admission process. Devices that are compatible with telemedicine systems are highly sought after, as they will enable doctors to remotely assess the efficiency of resuscitators and other medical equipment.
Telemedicine-assisted programs have been introduced in rural and underprivileged populations to address the geographical challenges that arise from the use of such services. Clinics fitted with AEDs and resuscitation kits are capable of sending real-time information to the central hospital, where specialists are able to assist immediately in case of emergency situations. Not only does this increase survival rates, but it also ensures standardization in the training and use of resuscitation equipment throughout the continent. With the evolution of telemedicine technology, its involvement is likely to become key in the adoption of the technology.