Healthcare spending is on the rise. The amount Americans spend on healthcare will grow by 5.5% annually over the next decade, according to government estimates. Of course, healthcare spending growth could slow down if, as some politicians have proposed, we establish a new healthcare system altogether. Still, the healthcare industry isn’t going away anytime soon, and many companies will continue to profit from it — especially market leaders.

Taking a buy and hold approach when investing in stocks is proven to be rewarding, with the likes of Warren Buffet — the greatest contemporary investor — making much of his fortune by employing this strategy. And arguably the most important factor when looking for stocks to buy and hold for a long time is whether the company in question has a strong competitive advantage. Here are two companies in the healthcare sector that are excellent stocks to buy for those with a long-term investing focus: Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)

The leader in robotic surgery

A mere look at Intuitive Surgical’s return in recent years would make any investor’s mouth water. Over the past five years, the company’s shares have increased by 243%, vastly outpacing the 57% return of the S&P 500 over the same period. Intuitive Surgical has achieved this feat thanks to its da Vinci Surgical System, which assists medical personnel when performing surgeries. There are 5,406 of the company’s pioneering robotic surgical systems installed worldwide — an industry-leading figure.

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