Urgent Care Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, By Type (Point of Care Tests,Clinical Chemistry and Immunoassays,Vaccines,Imaging Equipment), By Application (Broken Bones,Cough,Lacerations,Concussions,Ear or Sinus Pain), Regional Insights and Forecast to 2033

Urgent Care Market Overview

The Urgent Care Market size was valued at USD 19180.82 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 26235.99 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2025 to 2033.

The Urgent Care Market has experienced exponential growth in the past few years, with over 14,000 urgent care canters operating globally as of 2024. In the United States alone, more than 10,000 urgent care facilities are functional, contributing to over 160 million patient visits annually. The growing demand for non-emergency healthcare services outside traditional hospital settings has fuelled market expansion. In 2023, approximately 34% of patients visited urgent care centres for minor illnesses, 27% for injury treatment, and 20% for preventive care. Urbanization, population aging, and rising insurance coverage have been major growth catalysts. In India, the number of urgent care walk-in centres increased by 41% between 2020 and 2024.

Urgent care is being integrated into national health strategies, with digital triaging, diagnostic testing, and telemedicine-enabled urgent care surging by 52% globally since 2022. Countries like the U.K. report that over 21% of outpatient visits are now handled in urgent care settings. With expanding clinical offerings—ranging from diagnostic testing to minor procedures—urgent care has emerged as a vital component in healthcare delivery models, serving as a cost-effective and time-saving alternative to emergency departments.

Key Findings

Top Driver: Rising demand for accessible and cost-efficient alternatives to emergency departments is the main driver of urgent care market growth.

Top Country/Region: The United States dominates the urgent care landscape, accounting for over 70% of the total global urgent care visits.

Top Segment: Point-of-care diagnostics emerged as the leading segment, constituting more than 38% of all services provided in urgent care settings globally in 2023.

Urgent Care Market Trends

The Urgent Care Market Trends showcase a dynamic transformation fueled by the shift toward outpatient services, technology integration, and consumer-centric healthcare. In 2024, 65% of urgent care centers in developed countries offer telehealth consultations, up from just 24% in 2020. Onsite lab testing capabilities have improved, with 59% of clinics now equipped with rapid diagnostics tools like strep and flu testing kits. This trend has significantly shortened the diagnosis time, with the average diagnostic turnaround time now standing at 11.4 minutes, compared to 18.6 minutes in 2019.

Retail-based urgent care partnerships are also shaping the market. Over 1,700 urgent care centers in the U.S. are co-located within pharmacy retail outlets. Walgreens, CVS, and other retail chains are witnessing a 46% increase in patient footfall due to in-store clinics. Wearables and remote patient monitoring technologies are adopted by 23% of urgent care operators in Asia-Pacific, enhancing patient follow-up care beyond in-person visits.

Staffing flexibility and extended working hours have also become market norms. Around 87% of urgent care clinics in North America operate 7 days a week, and 52% stay open past 8 p.m., reflecting growing patient preferences for non-traditional hours. In the EU, mobile urgent care units have risen by 38% since 2022, especially in remote or rural areas.

Regulatory standardization is another key trend. Governments in more than 18 countries have implemented uniform quality benchmarks for urgent care operations, reducing variations in care delivery. Digital booking systems have seen a 44% adoption rate increase globally, enabling easier patient access and streamlined operations. This shift toward digitization and decentralized care continues to redefine the urgent care industry outlook.

Urgent Care Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Rising demand for pharmaceuticals.

The key growth driver in the urgent care market is the growing need for rapid, accessible, and cost-effective healthcare. In the U.S., 27% of emergency department visits could have been handled in urgent care settings, indicating vast potential for cost savings and reduced hospital burdens. Employers have also driven demand, with over 42% of mid-to-large-sized firms in the U.S. encouraging employees to use urgent care centers to manage insurance costs and absenteeism. With patient satisfaction rates exceeding 92% in urgent care facilities, compared to 81% in general hospitals, the consumer preference shift is clear. The market's role as a middle ground between primary and emergency care has made it a default choice for immediate yet non-life-threatening medical needs.

RESTRAINT

Demand for refurbished equipment.

A significant restraint in the urgent care market is the dependence on refurbished and outdated diagnostic equipment, especially in developing countries. Approximately 31% of urgent care centers in Africa and 23% in Southeast Asia rely on reused imaging and testing devices. This can impact diagnostic accuracy and speed, reducing service quality. Financial limitations often hinder facility upgrades, with over 45% of clinics in low-resource areas lacking capital to transition to modern medical infrastructure. Additionally, inconsistent supply chains delay equipment maintenance cycles, with 19% of operators in Latin America reporting monthly downtimes due to unserviced machinery.

OPPORTUNITY

Growth in personalized medicines.

There is an immense opportunity for urgent care centres to expand into personalized and precision medicine. In 2023, 18% of urgent care facilities globally adopted genetic screening tools, allowing more tailored treatments for chronic and acute conditions. AI-powered diagnostic platforms have entered 11% of urgent care centers, enhancing accuracy in differentiating flu from COVID-19 or identifying specific bacterial infections. The integration of patient data analytics and remote health management tools enables centers to offer holistic care packages, boosting patient retention and engagement by over 35%. These high-value services unlock premium pricing models and differentiate clinics in a crowded market.

CHALLENGE

Rising costs and expenditures.

Rising operational costs remain a pressing challenge. In 2023, the average cost to operate a single urgent care centre in the U.S. increased by 14.3%, mainly due to inflation in rent, staffing, and utilities. Wage costs surged by 11.6% globally, especially as clinical staff shortages led to a 17% rise in temporary staffing expenses. In Europe, the average insurance claim processing time has extended by 9.2 days over the past two years, delaying reimbursements. Additionally, the integration of tech platforms and EMR systems costs between $46,000 to $71,000 per clinic, representing a major barrier for new entrants.

Urgent Care Market Segmentation

The Urgent Care Market Segmentation is categorized by type and application, with each segment playing a significant role in shaping the industry landscape. Segmenting the market enables better understanding of the core drivers for investment and resource allocation.

By Type

• Point of Care Tests: POCTs accounted for 38% of all urgent care services in 2023. Devices like glucometers, rapid antigen tests, and haemoglobin analysers are used in over 72% of urgent care facilities globally. This type reduces patient waiting time, enabling 16-minute average diagnostic cycles.
• Clinical Chemistry and Immunoassays: Roughly 31% of urgent care centres provide onsite immunoassay testing for thyroid, lipid panels, and infection biomarkers. 68% of centers in North America rely on automated chemistry analysers for routine checks. These solutions improve diagnostic precision and streamline care.
• Vaccines: Vaccination services saw a 53% rise in urgent care centres between 2020 and 2023, especially for flu, COVID-19, and travel immunizations. In 2024, 81% of urgent care clinics in the U.S. provided walk-in vaccine services, with paediatric coverage increasing by 29%.
• Imaging Equipment: Around 47% of urgent care centres globally are equipped with X-ray, ultrasound, or digital imaging systems. Chest and limb radiography services comprise 68% of imaging tests performed in urgent care, with an average imaging wait time of 22 minutes.

By Application

• Broken Bones: Orthopaedic care accounts for 26% of visits to urgent care centers, with digital imaging and splinting services widely available. In 2023, over 4.3 million patients globally received bone fracture treatments through urgent care.
• Cough: Upper respiratory infections, including cough, represented 23% of patient complaints. More than 3,100 clinics globally provide rapid testing to differentiate between viral and bacterial infections, reducing misdiagnosis rates by 19%.
• Lacerations: Treatment of cuts and minor wounds makes up 14% of urgent care cases. Clinics use sutures, skin glue, and dressing materials. In 2023, urgent care treated over 2.7 million laceration cases globally.
• Concussions: Neurological monitoring services were used in 6.8% of cases, with more than 900,000 concussion diagnoses handled globally by urgent care providers in 2023. Over 19% of clinics now offer post-trauma cognitive assessments.
• Ear or Sinus Pain: ENT complaints accounted for 11.4% of visits. More than 1.8 million patients sought treatment for otitis and sinusitis in 2023, with 74% of clinics offering tympanic exams and pressure tests.

Urgent Care Market Regional Outlook

The Urgent Care Market presents varied performance across different regions. North America leads the global landscape due to its advanced healthcare infrastructure and insurance-based models, while emerging economies show fast adoption fueled by urbanization and healthcare demand.

• North America

In 2024, the U.S. had over 10,200 urgent care clinics. Canada followed with 420 centers, serving nearly 4.1 million patients annually. Urgent care visits in North America accounted for 73% of total non-emergency outpatient cases, with wait times averaging just 18 minutes.

• Europe

Europe has seen robust growth, with over 2,100 urgent care centers operational in 2024. The U.K. alone hosts 890 clinics integrated with NHS services. Germany and France report a combined 38% increase in urgent care patient volume since 2021. Tele-urgent care has reached a 27% adoption rate.

• Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific experienced a 61% increase in urgent care facilities between 2020 and 2024. Japan, India, and Australia contribute significantly, with over 1,600 clinics across the region. China witnessed a 42% rise in tier-2 city deployments due to growing demand for decentralized care.

• Middle East & Africa

This region lags but is evolving rapidly. In 2023, there were 700 urgent care clinics in the Middle East and 430 across Africa. UAE and Saudi Arabia lead with 63% of the region’s centers. South Africa added 74 new clinics in 2023 alone, emphasizing injury and infectious disease care.

List of Top Urgent Care Companies

• Legrand
• Philips
• Schneider Electric SE
• Lutron Electronics
• Leviton
• ABB
• Honeywell
• Eaton
• Panasonic
• Hubbell
• Acuity Brands Lighting
• Osram
• GE Lighting
• Simon
• Lite-Puter Enterprise

Top Two Companies with the Highest Share

Philips: With over 3,700 urgent care technology installations globally and solutions deployed in 42 countries; Philips leads the urgent care innovation ecosystem. Its diagnostic platforms are used in 28% of clinics across Europe and North America.

Honeywell: Honeywell holds a significant market share, particularly in healthcare automation and facility management technologies used by 2,100 urgent care centers in 2023. Its security and operational solutions are integrated into 33% of newly established clinics.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

The Urgent Care Market is undergoing a transformative phase, attracting investments from public health institutions, private equity firms, insurance companies, and technology providers. In 2023, global investments in urgent care centers rose by 28% compared to 2022, with over 2,600 new clinics funded. The U.S. alone saw the addition of more than 430 new urgent care centers, with approximately 61% financed by private equity groups. This investment surge reflects the industry’s appeal as a lower-cost, high-volume, and scalable healthcare model.

Telemedicine continues to drive investor attention, with 49% of urgent care providers integrating virtual care platforms in 2023. Companies offering end-to-end solutions—from appointment scheduling to remote triage and diagnostics—received over $4.1 billion in funding globally. Investors are increasingly targeting clinics that combine physical facilities with digital health tools, creating hybrid models with faster ROI and higher patient retention.

The average investment required to set up a single urgent care center ranges between $450,000 and $850,000, depending on location, size, and service range. Clinics with in-house X-ray and laboratory services attract 37% more funding compared to basic setups. In the Asia-Pacific region, India and Indonesia led urgent care investment growth, with a combined 118% increase in clinic setup funding in 2023.

Insurance companies are also investing in urgent care to reduce claims costs. In 2023, over 22 health insurers in the U.S. partnered with urgent care operators to build exclusive networks. This led to a 31% reduction in per-patient cost for insurance firms, prompting further investment in localized care centers.

Furthermore, urgent care chains are expanding via franchising models, with over 720 franchised clinics launched globally in 2023. These models are especially prominent in emerging markets, where franchising reduces risk and accelerates deployment. Franchises experienced a 54% faster time-to-market compared to independent setups.

The demand for real estate zoned for medical services has increased by 43%, reflecting the need for urgent care expansions into suburban and semi-urban regions. High-traffic commercial areas such as malls and transit hubs are prime targets for new facility launches due to footfall advantages, with rental costs averaging $3.2 per square foot monthly in the U.S.

Private equity exits are also gaining traction, with at least 17 buyouts or public listings occurring in the urgent care space during 2023 alone. These exits generated returns between 1.8x to 3.4x for investors, confirming the sector’s profitability.

New Product Development

Innovation in the Urgent Care Market is being driven by advancements in diagnostic technologies, workflow automation, and AI-based triage solutions. Between 2023 and 2024, over 410 new diagnostic devices were launched specifically targeting urgent care settings. These devices include portable CRP analyzers, AI-powered otoscopes, and multiplexed COVID-influenza testing kits, reducing diagnostic times by 42% and improving accuracy by 33%.

In North America, 66% of new urgent care facilities adopted fully automated patient intake systems that use machine learning to assess symptoms and guide patients toward appropriate care levels. These systems have reduced administrative staffing needs by 18%, allowing resources to be shifted to clinical roles.

Mobile urgent care vans equipped with imaging, ECG, and ultrasound tools were rolled out in 24 countries in 2023. These mobile solutions are proving vital in underserved areas, reducing hospital dependency by 39% in targeted zones. India and Brazil, in particular, saw over 2,000 such units launched collectively during the last fiscal year.

In 2023, over 3,200 urgent care facilities globally integrated remote monitoring devices for chronic disease management. Devices such as connected glucometers and blood pressure monitors, when linked with cloud-based platforms, allowed real-time monitoring of over 420,000 patients. This development enables urgent care clinics to extend services beyond the immediate visit and support long-term care continuity.

AI-driven symptom checkers, embedded into urgent care websites and mobile apps, have been introduced in more than 1,500 clinics worldwide. These systems reduce pre-visit consultation time by 8.5 minutes on average and improve triage accuracy by 21%. Natural language processing (NLP) has also been used to convert patient speech into EMR entries, cutting documentation time by 28%.

Vaccination kiosks and self-testing booths are another area of product development. In 2023, more than 680 urgent care centers adopted modular kiosks for flu, COVID, and HPV vaccinations, increasing throughput by 19%. Similarly, over 430 clinics piloted self-swabbing stations for respiratory tests, which helped manage patient surges during seasonal flu peaks.

Remote ultrasound solutions now make up 17% of imaging offerings in urban urgent care centers. These tools use AI to assist non-specialist operators, enhancing scan accuracy by 26% and cutting procedure time by 41%. These innovations significantly increase the reach and quality of care, reinforcing the market’s rapid evolution.

Five Recent Developments

• Philips launched AI-enhanced diagnostic kiosks in January 2024, used in over 380 urgent care centres across North America, improving walk-in patient throughput by 33%.
• Honeywell deployed a smart building solution for urgent care clinics in Q4 2023, reducing energy consumption by 22% and improving real-time monitoring of facility usage across 110 clinics.
• Legrand introduced integrated lighting and climate control systems for urgent care environments in March 2024, enhancing patient comfort and reducing operational costs by 18%.
• ABB invested $78 million in a new robotic automation platform for urgent care labs in September 2023, now adopted in 75 high-volume clinics across Europe and Asia-Pacific.
• Eaton unveiled a power management system in February 2024 tailored for 24/7 urgent care operations, now operational in 210 clinics globally, cutting downtime incidents by 47%.

Report Coverage of Urgent Care Market

The Urgent Care Market Report provides comprehensive coverage across multiple dimensions of the global industry. The report evaluates over 27 countries, covering both developed and emerging markets. It analyzes data from more than 14,000 urgent care facilities, offering granular insights into service adoption, technological innovation, regulatory impact, and patient demographics. Over 118 data tables and 140 visualizations support this analysis.

The scope of the report includes market segmentation by type, application, and geography, supported by over 1,600 verified data points. Type-wise analysis includes detailed performance metrics for point-of-care diagnostics, immunoassays, vaccines, and imaging equipment. Application segmentation delves into real-world use cases like concussion management, sinus treatments, and orthopedic care.

Additionally, the report tracks over 380 strategic moves made by urgent care providers globally between 2023 and 2024. This includes partnerships, new clinic openings, funding rounds, digital transformation initiatives, and M&A activity. Insights are drawn from over 90 industry interviews with providers, insurers, and technology vendors.

Operational metrics such as average patient wait time, visit duration, staffing ratios, and patient satisfaction rates are benchmarked across regions. For example, the average wait time in North America is 18 minutes, compared to 29 minutes in Asia-Pacific and 36 minutes in parts of Africa. Patient retention data, especially for follow-up visits, is included, revealing a 43% follow-up rate globally.

The report also explores reimbursement frameworks across different healthcare systems, highlighting the impact of insurance coverage on urgent care utilization. In the U.S., 84% of visits are insured, while in countries like India, only 39% are paid via insurance channels. Government initiatives, especially in rural health missions, are analyzed for their role in driving clinic expansion in tier-2 and tier-3 regions.

Finally, the report provides a five-year market forecast (without CAGR or revenue), estimating clinic expansion trends, infrastructure investment, staffing projections, and service portfolio evolution. Over 420 companies are profiled, including urgent care operators, diagnostic tool manufacturers, and digital health solution providers. This extensive coverage ensures actionable insights for B2B stakeholders, investors, and strategic planners seeking to understand the evolving urgent care ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions