Healthcare is a booming business in the United States, and that fact is creating tremendous growth opportunities for both pharmaceutical and medical device packaging. A just-released study by PMMI (pmmi.org) points out that the U.S. was by far the world’s largest healthcare market in 2015, with sales of pharmaceuticals hitting $1.1 trillion and medical device sales reaching $350 billion.
Companies in both segments face similar challenges when it comes to packaging. The industry is heavily regulated, with stringent rules designed to protect consumer health. Each segment is preparing for game-changing regulations on either serialized product identifications for pharmaceuticals or Unique Device Identification (UDI) that will enable medical devices to be identified throughout the distribution and use cycle.