Healthcare industry and biotech sector: growth impetus despite cost pressure and skills shortage

The healthcare industry and the biotech sector regularly stand out as drivers of the economy or as growth sectors of the 21st century. The reasons for this are obvious; ageing populations in Europe and China, for example, an increasing number of people suffering from civilization-related illnesses and a high demand for personalized medicine and biotechnology (TechBio) are leading to a sharp rise in demand for the services offered by these industries. This trend is significantly influenced by steadily rising cost pressure and a decline in the availability of skilled workers – in particular in the healthcare sector.

While the pharmaceutical and life science sector can also frequently fall back on private equity financing, traditional acute healthcare has been underfunded for many years, with the result that the “dual financing” provided for by law has long since given way to shortage management in practice. On the one hand, this has led to high margin pressure on existing payers in the health and care sector and to a sharp increase in consolidation in the healthcare sector. While hospitals and medical care centers were operated by state institutions in the past, private equity is now increasingly investing in this sector.