Flexible video colonoscopes have replaced non-video colonoscopes to a large extent in India. Currently, manufacturers are focused on developing disposable components for flexible video colonoscopes to prevent cross-contamination. This is important in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic where infection control is paramount, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

According to GlobalData’s Medical Intelligence Database, the colonoscopes market in India is expected to exceed US$100m by 2025. Flexible video colonoscopes accounted for more than 90% of the market. Olympus Corp and Fujifilm Holdings Corp are the leaders in the colonoscopes market in India, followed by Hoya Corp and KARL STORZ SE & Co KG. In 2019, these four companies accounted for about 75% of the colonoscopes market in India.

Bhaskar Vittal, Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Favorable government policies and implementation of colorectal cancer screening programs can lead to strong demand for colonoscopes in India. One of the reasons for low incidence of colorectal cancer in India compared to developed countries is the lack of large scale screening programs, low awareness among general population and low spend on healthcare by the government. Although the incidence of colorectal cancer is low in India, the billion plus population makes the absolute number of cases very high.”

Colorectal cancer is a major public health issue. However, the methods for diagnosis have improved dramatically with advanced colonoscopes technologies especially with the continued transitioning from flexible non-video to flexible video colonoscopes.

Mr Vittal concludes: “Patients who have tested positive for colorectal cancer through fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) method may have their colonoscopy examination postponed or cancelled in most of the cases due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. This is expected to lead to a pent-up demand for colonoscopy in the coming quarters especially with easing of lockdown measures and gradual re-opening of hospitals.”