On 4 February 2025, the Osservatorio Contract Logistics Gino Marchet released the findings of its research into Italy’s healthcare logistics sector, highlighting a steady increase in revenue from 2019 to 2023. However, profit margins remain lower than those observed across the broader contract logistics market. The average profitability in the healthcare sector stands at 3.5%, significantly below the national average of 5.3%. National carriers fare better, achieving a margin of 5.8%, compared to 3.5% for general logistics operators. Regional operators also perform well, with an average profitability of 4.7%. The most critical issues are found in intermediate distribution, where the average margin is just 1.5%, and 47% of distributors report an EBITDA-to-revenue ratio of less than 2%.
In 2024, logistics volumes remained stable in terms of parcels handled (-1.7%), with a slight increase in weight (+1%), yet the total number of shipments declined (-5.5%). More than 80% of deliveries are destined for pharmacies (40%) and hospitals (43%), which also represent the primary channels by number of parcels (34%) and transported weight (53%). Notably, the home delivery segment has expanded, rising from 1% of total shipments in 2019 to 4% in 2024, indicating a shift in distribution models. Lombardy and Lazio continue to dominate the logistics landscape, serving as the origin points for nearly 90% of logistics flows, while Lombardy, Lazio, and Campania are the primary destination regions.
Within the hospital sector, eight out of ten healthcare companies plan to implement logistics digitalisation projects within the next five years. Currently, 71% of healthcare facilities already view logistics as a strategic function with direct impacts on organisational and clinical efficiency, a figure that rises to 93% among industry professionals, including pharmacy directors, procurement managers, and logistics coordinators. The main challenges remain information management, low digitalisation levels, and the involvement of healthcare personnel in logistical tasks.
Despite these issues, only 2% of hospital facilities have no plans to enhance their logistics operations. Over the next three to five years, 83% will adopt technological and digital solutions, nearly doubling from the previous rate of 48%. Meanwhile, 38% will invest in centralised logistics management, 17% intend to fully outsource their logistics activities, and a further 14% plan to do so partially. The remaining 17% will focus on integrating new professional roles with specialised expertise, such as logistics engineers.
Problematic areas within hospital logistics include pharmaceutical warehouses, medical device storage, consumption centres (wards, operating theatres, etc.), and transportation from warehouses to end-use locations. Proposed solutions range from process optimisation to digitalisation and automation, as well as outsourcing and centralisation of logistics activities. Current priorities focus on the digital management of stock levels and inventory (41%) and revising restocking and storage strategies (25%).
