The healthcare sector represents three percent of the global active RFID market, according to new research from IDTechEx, a UK-based consulting firm.

The report Active RFID and Sensor Networks defines active RFID (radio frequency identification) as RFID in which a battery drives the tag.

It includes technologies such as real time locating systems, ubiquitous sensor networks and active RFID with Zigbee, RuBee, ultra wide band and WiFi.

In healthcare, RFID is used primarily for tagging pharmaceuticals and in hospitals, where real-time location systems track assets, patients and staff. About 50 hospitals a year are adopting this type of technology, known as RTLS, according to IDTechEx.

A 2006 IDTechEx report forecast RFID tags and services in the healthcare sector would grow from the $90 million market it was then to $2.1 billion by 2016.

Among the key drivers of RFID adoption on the healthcare front, according to IDTechEx are the “unquantifiable benefits” of safety, security, reputation and brand protection.

“RFID is a remarkably versatile enabling technology and its uses in healthcare will widen rapidly,” Peter Harrop predicted in the 2006 report. “RFID is an enabling technology that saves lives, prevents errors, saves costs and increases security. It removes tedious procedures and provides patients with more freedom and dignity. For example, it reduces the amount of personal intervention by staff because it automates procedures such as protecting the disoriented elderly from danger and matching patient to treatment.”

In the most recent IDTechEx report, Raghu Das, MD, chief executive officer of the consulting firm, forecasts the global RFID market will rise from 12.7 percent this year to 26.3 percent in 2017, which translates into a $7.07 billion market. The cell phone RFID modules represent an additional $0.44 billion in 2007 and $1.2 billion in 2017.

“In our analysis of 75 active RFID case studies from 18 countries, the largest number of projects has been in logistics with around double the number for each of the nearest contenders – air industry, automotive/transportation and healthcare, Das writes. “Added to those as important sectors will be such things as safety of constructions and people monitoring. Meanwhile, RTLS (real-time location systems) is being put in about 50 hospitals yearly, for staff, patients and assets.”

On a global scale, including other vertical markets, such as manufacturing, farming, research libraries, the military and consumer goods and retails, Das lists the following drivers:

- Much stronger market demand for tracking, locating and monitoring people and things. This is driven by security, safety, cost and customer satisfaction.

- Reduction in cost and size of the tags and systems.

- Development of Ubiquitous Sensor Networks (USN) where large numbers of active RFID tags with sensors are radio networked in buildings, forests, rivers, hospitals and many other locations.

- Availability of open standards – notably ISO 18000-7, IEEE 802.15.4 and NFC.

- Leveraging many popular forms of short range wireless communication, particularly WiFi, UWB and ZigBee and including mesh networks

- Use of mobile phones for purchasing, mass transit, etc.

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