Wound care demand climbs as Taiwan's over-65s pass 20%

The firm added a 70% IPA prep pad to a line that previously stocked only 75% ethanol.

Taiwan’s shift into a super-aged society is increasing demand for wound-care and infection-control supplies as more older patients require treatment in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Willy Wu, International Department Chief at China Surgical Dressings Center Co., Ltd., said at Medical Taiwan 2026 that people aged 65 and older now account for more than 20% of the population.

The demographic change is expected to increase the use of dressings, preparation pads and other consumable products, particularly as older patients may take longer to recover from wounds and face a greater risk of infection.

“With an ageing population, you are looking at more infection control and advanced wound-care products on the consumables side,” Wu said.

Medical suppliers are responding by widening their infection-prevention ranges. “Infection control is a big part of the consumables industry,” Wu said. “That’s why we added a 70% IPA prep pad to our product line, because we previously only had the 75% ethanol prep pad.”

Over the next three years, Wu expects Taiwan’s medical supplies sector to retain an advantage with overseas buyers because of its record of regulatory compliance and quality control.

“International buyers are looking for countries capable of meeting stringent regulations for quality products,” he said.

The sector’s prospects will depend on whether manufacturers can maintain those standards while meeting rising domestic demand linked to ageing, chronic illness and longer-term wound management.