According to our new research study on "Medical Second Opinion Market Forecast to 2031 -Global Analysis - by Condition, Service Providers, Geography," the market is anticipated to grow from US$ 5.33 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$ 15.40 billion by 2031; it is expected to register a CAGR of 14.2% during 2023-2031. The medical second opinion market growth is attributed to the growing emphasis on better treatment outcomes and an increasing preference for healthcare cost optimization.

A medical second opinion is the process through which a patient seeks another professional assessment or evaluation of a diagnosed case, a treatment, or a medical condition by a different provider. This helps patients confirm a diagnosis, seek alternative treatment options, and be reassured about the decisions they make with respect to their health. Getting a second opinion is especially true for serious conditions, complex medical cases, and the uncertainty of a patient in relation to the first recommendation they received. This is apt to empower patients by giving them more information as well as perspectives on their health status.

North America accounted for a major share of the global medical second opinion market in 2023. The North America medical second opinion market is segmented into the US, Canada, and Mexico. Increasing cases of respiratory diseases in the pediatric population and growing investments in medical devices are among a few factors that are projected to accelerate the growth of the medical second opinions market in North America during the forecast period.

In North America, the US holds a significant share of the medical second opinions market. The growth of the market in the country is primarily driven by the increasing prevalence of cancer. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the country. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2022, more than 1.9 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the nation, causing about 609,360 deaths. Further, ~2.0 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in the US in 2024. The increasing number of misdiagnosed cancer cases and its adverse effects are propelling the demand for medical second opinions.

According to research from Johns Hopkins University., ~4,000 surgical errors are caused every year in the US. Further, according to a study, "Top 10 Medical Errors That Lead to Death," ~7,000 to 9,000 patients die due to medication errors each year in the US. According to the article "Burden of serious harms from diagnostic error in the USA," published in July 2023, about 795,000 Americans suffer due to misdiagnosis of serious diseases each year. Such a high number of medical errors is anticipated to surge the country's need for medical second opinion.

In 2017, UnitedHealthcare collaborated with 2nd.MD to provide members with a no-cost, member-focused expert medical opinion service. 2nd.MD virtually connects to a medical opinion service field specialist to review cases and provide a second opinion. In addition, several organizations assist patients by linking them to doctors for reviewing treatment plans, confirming diagnoses, responding to inquiries, and providing rapid second opinions. For instance, WorldCare International Inc. offers the gold standard of medical second opinions for critical illnesses to covered members worldwide. The service covers more than 100 categories of critical illness, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, and hematology conditions.

Digitalization of Medical Consulting Services to Provide Market Opportunities in Future

The increasing integration of medical services and digital platforms is causing increased popularity and acceptance of digital consultation. This digital platform allows patients to get a second medical opinion without any visit to the hospitals or clinics. The service can provide significant patient convenience, improved patient experience, and effective cost management. Deploying digital platforms enables patients to be consulted from any remote region with better accessibility to medical experts. The increase in collaborations and partnerships between software development companies and healthcare institutions is accelerating the digitalization of medical consulting services. For instance, in October 2021, NorthShore University HealthSystem partnered with TytoCare to help providers diagnose and treat patients using telehealth. NorthShore serves residents across the Chicago metropolitan area and operates six hospitals. In October 2021, Cigna Health Plan announced that it was significantly expanding access to covered virtual care services, including digital-first primary, dermatology, behavioral and urgent care. The growing digitalization of medical consulting services is expected to contribute to the growth of the medical second opinion market in the coming years.

Medical Second Opinion Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

Medisense Healthcare Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; Second Opinion International; Elite Medical Services; The Cigna Group; Helsana; WorldCare; Vidal Health Insurance TPA Pvt Ltd; Medix; 2nd.MD; Axa SA; Teladoc Health Inc; DoctorSpring Pvt. Ltd; USARAD Holdings Inc (SecondOpinions.com); Cleveland Clinic; Included Health, Inc.; Mass General Brigham Incorporated. (Partners Healthcare); Stanford Health Care; and Royal Doctors are among the key companies operating in the medical second opinion market.

The US Food and Drug Administration, American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, The Barcelona Institute for Global Health, and Our World in data are among the primary and secondary sources referred to while preparing the medical second opinion market report.