The ambulance services market in France

An ambulance is a vehicle specially equipped and fitted out for the rapid, safe transport of patients requiring emergency medical care or medical assistance during their transfer to a healthcare facility. These vehicles are fitted with advanced medical equipment, such as vital signs monitoring equipment, resuscitation devices and emergency medicines.

The ambulance services market is part of the broader sector of medical transport services. This highly competitive sector also includes light medical vehicles (VSL) and contract cabs, which have recovered market share over the years to the detriment of ambulances.

The sanitary transport market has grown at an average annual rate of 3.57% between 2011 and 2021representing cumulative growth of 47% in 11 years. On the other hand, the ambulance services market grew at an average annual rate of 2,69% over the same period, for cumulative growth of almost 34%.

Several factors, both cyclical and structural, have stimulated ambulance service activity. These includean ageing population, the increase in chronic diseasesand the "ambulatory shift " offer sustainable, assured growth for this sector. The Covid-19 pandemic accentuated these phenomena, highlighting the pressure under which medical services operate in France.

However, current inflation, which has led toan increase in the minimum wage of over 12% in two yearsas well as rising petrol and diesel prices, have led to a significant increase in operating costs over the past few years. With the inability to pass on these rising costs to our fixed fares, this has led tolower operating margins ambulance services sector, which must adapt to this reality.

Scope of the study :

Ambulance services are listed by INSEE under NAF code 86.90A. Entitled "Ambulances", this class covers :

Patient transport by any mode of transport (including air). These services are sometimes provided in the event of a medical emergency;

the activity of intensive care ambulances.

On the other hand, NAF code 86.90 A excludes patient transfers without operating equipment or medical personnel (NAF 49, 50 and 51), as well as mobile operating theatres (NAF 86.10Z).