Expanding the scope of extended care to ease the growing healthcare burden

The rise of extended care 

Extended care encompasses a broad spectrum of medical and non-medical services that support individuals living with chronic illnesses, disabilities or recovering from serious health events. Often referred to as post-acute or long-term care, this sector is undergoing a rapid global expansion, including in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. 

According to The Insight Partners, the global post-acute care market is expected to soar to US$1.9 trn by 2030, rising from US$715.2 bn in 2022 – a CAGR of 12.6%.¹ For the GCC region, the growth represents a transformative opportunity. It’s a chance to build strong, patient-centred care systems that bridge current service gaps and meet the demands of ageing populations and rising chronic disease rates. 

At the heart of the extended care market are four key segments - long-term care, rehabilitation, mental health and home health. Each addresses specific patient needs and care intensities, offering an opportunity for innovation, policy development and strategic investment.  

These include: 

• Post-acute rehabilitation: Here, patients receive medical treatment and rehabilitation therapy to recover from complex surgeries or serious injuries. The goal is to support a full recovery and facilitate a prompt return home or to a home care setting. 

• Long-term care: Designed for patients who require extended rehabilitation support with minimum medical supervision. 

• Long-term ventilator care: Intended for patients requiring a mechanical ventilator for more than three weeks and more than six hours daily. While these patients are no longer acutely ill, they often experience chronic health problems and respiratory failure.  

The growing demand for extended care worldwide is driven mainly by an ageing population. The United Nations projects that the global population aged 65 years and older is expected to more than double, from 761m in 2021 to 1.6bn in 2050. Similarly, the number of people aged 80 and older is also projected to more than double in that time.² As the population ages, the prevalence of chronic diseases rises, leading to more surgeries and a greater need for post-acute and long-term needs.  

Rising awareness of mental health awareness is also contributing to the growing demand for extended care in long-term behavioural health. According to the PwC Middle East’s report, ‘The Socio-economic Impact of Untreated Mental Illness’ an estimated 15% of the population in the GCC is believed to suffer from mental health disorders.  

Extended care strengthens the continuum of care by bridging gaps in the traditional acute-care model. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), improving long-term care is vital for sustainable healthcare systems and more efficient resource allocation. It prevents costly duplication of services and ensures that patients receive care in the most appropriate care settings. Extended care benefits include lower treatment costs, reduced hospital readmissions, less strain on acute-care settings, and improved patient recovery outcomes.³

With a rapidly ageing population, growing national ambitions to improve the quality of life across the GCC and an increasing focus on longevity, the need for long-term care and rehabilitation services is more urgent than ever. For example, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan includes a national health strategy designed to raise life expectancy from 74 to 80 years. The UAE’s National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031 targets improvements in mental and physical health, with particular emphasis on elderly care.   
  
Such initiatives are anchored in three core elements: preventive healthcare, the integration of new technologies, and public-private collaboration. Meeting this rising demand cannot be the responsibility of the public sector alone.

One promising solution is to expand the role of the private sector to deliver efficient and high-quality extended care. Developed in conjunction with TVM Capital Healthcare, this report explores the investment landscape for extended care across the GCC.

 It includes:

• The latest innovations in extended care, including technological advances and the shift to value-based care models 

• Addressing the challenges in extended care in the GCC

• The growing opportunity for the private sector in the extended care market

• A deep dive on Saudi Arabia’s extended care landscape 

• What’s next for extended care expansion in the GCC

• Five key considerations and next steps for private sector players  

References:

^{_{1- The Insight Partners. (2023) Post-acute care market: Size, growth, share by 2030
2- United Nations. (2023). Leaving no one behind in an ageing world: World social report 2023. UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
3- World Health Organization. Questions and answers: Long-term care. (2022, December 1)}}