Pharma for the ages: Meeting logistics challenges in a silver world

Imagine a world in which every third person is over the age of 65. In just a few years, you might not have to – at least in some places. As of 2024, more than one-fifth (21.6%) of the EU population was aged 65 years and over. In Japan, that figure climbed closer to 30%. The percentages in developing countries are lower but also on the rise. In China, for example, the number of seniors 65 or older is now over 15%.

As the population of people over 60 edges up to two billion by 2030, it’s logical to expect the need for healthcare to increase. Older adults are more likely to develop chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and respiratory disorders. In the US, for example, nearly 95% of adults aged 60 and older have at least one chronic condition, and about 80% have two or more.

It's clear: As the world grows older, medical needs will evolve. Healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies will need to keep pace – and they’ll need new logistics solutions to do so. Below, we share three key trends to watch.

It’s simple math, really. People are getting older, and the demand for medications is going up as a result. Little wonder that the global medicine market is expected to reach about US$1.6 trillion in total market size in 2025.

This surge in demand will require a robust and responsive logistics network to ensure that medications are delivered efficiently and safely to patients around the world. The complexity of managing a diverse range of pharmaceuticals, including those requiring temperature control and special handling, will be a significant challenge.

Older people are increasingly keen on having treatments come to them, rather than the other way around. This trend reflects the increasing preference for home-based care among seniors. As they become comfortable with technology (more on that below), the demand for direct-to-patient services (DTP) is expected to rise, including scheduled deliveries to replenish medication and streamlined delivery for routine and over-the-counter medications.

The data show where we are headed: The size of the direct-to-patient healthcare logistics market is estimated to reach US$28.69 billion by 2029, growing at an average annual growth rate of nearly 8% from 2024 to 2029.

More home-based care will increase the need for convenient and reliable delivery services that cater to an elderly population, providing a significant opportunity for logistics providers to innovate and expand their services.

The adoption of telemedicine and smart health devices is really changing the way doctors provide care, enabling continuous monitoring and timely interventions for chronic conditions. In 2020, 23 million patients in the US used technologies and services for remote patient monitoring. By 2025, that number is expected to triple to over 70 million patients.

This trend also demands increased logistics support as telemedicine devices are delivered to elderly patients at home, including the replacement of parts as needed. 

How do we meet the logistics challenges presented by these three trends? By evolving and expanding our health logistics services. And that’s precisely what we’re doing. As the world’s leading logistics company, we can leverage our extensive global network and 30+ years in health logistics for the life sciences & healthcare sector to rapidly respond to today’s trends and meet the increasingly complex requirements of pharma logistics.

Here are some examples:

• Our state-of-the-art tracking and temperature-controlled logistics ensure medicines reach patients in optimal condition.
• Our last-mile logistics networks enable reliable home delivery solutions.
• Our online retail and reverse logistics solutions facilitate the distribution of medical devices and manage replacement and returns.

We see new pharma as a new opportunity to build up our cold chain and offer more end-to-end solutions. That’s why we are investing heavily – €2 billion between now and 2030 – and making strategic moves to expand our capabilities and offer more specialized pharma logistics.

The future of pharma is here – and it's smarter, more responsive, and more patient-centric than ever. That alone is having a huge impact on logistics. As the global population ages, the trends outlined above will only accelerate the demand for innovative pharma logistics solutions that meet the evolving needs of seniors.

At DHL, we’re following these trends and working closely with the life sciences and healthcare sector so that we’re ready to meet those needs.