I think the healthcare sector is a great place to invest with a long term view due to the favourable tailwinds that it is experiencing.
These include ageing populations around the globe, increased chronic disease burden, and better technologies. But with so many options for investors to choose from, which ones should you be buying?
Below are three ASX healthcare shares I believe could provide stellar returns for investors over the long term:
Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN)
The first healthcare share to consider buying is Nanosonics. It is an infection prevention specialist best known for its trophon EPR disinfection system for ultrasound probes. It is also the first high level disinfection system for ultrasound probes that is effective against high-risk, cancer causing strains of Human Papilloma Virus. This has gone down very well with healthcare institutions, leading to its installed base growing at a rapid rate over the last few years. The good news is that there's still a large addressable market for it to grow into in the coming years. This should be supported by the launch of new products targeting unmet needs which have similar market opportunities. If they are anywhere near as successful, Nanosonics will have a very bright future ahead of it.
PolyNovo Ltd (ASX: PNV)
Another healthcare share which I think could have a bright future ahead of it is PolyNovo. It is the medical device company behind the NovoSorb Biodegradable Temporising Matrix (BTM) product. This synthetic polymer was developed at CSIRO and is used by clinicians to treat serious burn and skin trauma patients. It can be used in surgical procedures and will eventually biodegrade safely and be excreted by the body. The company's current target market has a sizeable $1.5 billion addressable opportunity. However, management is looking to expand BTM's use into the hernia and breast treatment markets. This would lift its addressable market to a total of $7.5 billion if successful.
Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC)
A final healthcare share to look at is Ramsay Health Care. This global private hospital operator currently has 480 facilities across 11 countries. Although the near future is not going to be easy for Ramsay due to both the pandemic and general tough trading conditions in the private hospital space, I believe its long term outlook is very positive. This could make it worth considering a long term and patient investment in its shares. Especially given the aforementioned tailwinds that the sector is experiencing. This is likely to lead to a strong increase in demand for its services over the next decade and beyond.
