Drugs and medicines can be purchased from any city in the U.S. and delivered to homes in Guatemala, with a $1 surcharge.

Novartis inaugurated this program in alliance with Meykos drugstores, Money Gram and Western Union.

Novartis marketing chief, Fernando Martínez, was interviewed by local newspaper El Periodico, and quoted as saying: "Customers sending remittances want to be sure that medicinal costs are covered, and this opens a business opportunity".

Source: elperiodico.com.gt

More on this topic

Guatemala: Family Remittances up 17%

February 2013

During January this year $357 million was received in remittances in Guatemala, 17% more than in the same period in 2012.

Figures released by the Bank of Guatemala (Banguat), showed that in January 2012 $305 million entered the country in remittances, while in the same period in 2013 $357 million came in, in other words, revenues increased $ 52 million, which is 17%.

Guatemala: Record Revenue from Remittances in May

June 2012

The record, $451.5 million, represents an 8.7% increase compared to May 2011.

Migrants sent a record U.S. $451.5 million to their families in Guatemala, an increase of 8.7% or about $36.2 million more than in May 2011 (U.S. $415.3 million), according to the Bank of Guatemala (Banguat).

Remittances for $13.06 billion to Central America in 2011

March 2012

By country: Guatemala $4.37 billion; El Salvador $3.65 billion; Honduras $2.86 billion; Nicaragua $1.05 billion; Panama $592 millions; Costa Rica $530 millions.

Inter-American Development Bank Report:

Remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean rose to $61 billion in 2011

Latin America Intends to Harmonize Medication Controls

April 2011

Over 100 experts from Latin America and the United States, plus observers from Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Spain and Austria, participated in the III annual conference for pharmaceutical regulation in the region.

The event was organized by the Food and Drug Administration of the U.S. and sponsored by the Panamanian Health Ministry. Participants discussed drug control, registry, verification and supply chain security.