The government has announced investments in medical equipment for the 30 existing hospitals and the construction of two in La Union and San Miguel, plus an ophthalmology center.
From a statement issued by the Government of El Salvador:
The Minister of Health, Violeta Menjivar, announced major health projects to be run by the government this year, among which is the inauguration of the National Hospital of La Union, whose total investment will be $16 million.
Agroganadera Pinilla SA has announced the sale of La Posada, in Hacienda Pinilla, Guanacaste, to the company Rythmia Holdings Company SRL, which will convert the facility into a center for medical treatment.
From a statement issued by Agroganadera Pinilla, SA:
Agroganadera Pinilla, SA, owner of Hacienda Pinilla Beach Resort & Residential Community in Guanacaste, announces the sale of the Hotel La Posada to the company Rythmia Holdings Company SRL, a subsidiary of Rythmia LLC, a company based in California, USA.
There is an insufficient number of professionals in this health area to meet growing demand, both in public and in private sectors.
The Ministry of Health currently has 494 nutritionists, however it needs 500 more to meet demand in public health facilities and provide adequate care to the population.
Yeny Carrasco, nutritionist and dietitian at the Promotional Health Department, told Panamaamerica.com.pa that "...
The increase in the use of medical policies and a greater culture of prevention explains the 15% increase in the demand for private hospitals in the region expected for this year.
Despite the economic difficulties faced by each country in the region, demand in this sector has not diminished, as 60% of service users have private medical insurance. This underlies "...
The Guatemalan Institute of Social Security is putting out to tender clinical laboratory services for patients in the departments of Quetzaltenango and Jutiapa.
Guatemala Government Purchase 3488896:
"Clinical Laboratory Services for patients at various units of the Guatemalan Social Security Institute - IGSS - Department of Jutiapa ."
The competition for the purchase of 159 ambulances whose submission date for proposals was today, has been suspended at the request of the Authority for Transparency and Access to Information.
From a press release issued by the Ministry of Health of Panama (MINSA)
The Ministry of Health has made public its position on certain publications in various national media, related to the tender of an Integrated Ambulance System.
The country lacks adequate infrastructure options and care services for elderly people.
Aging in Costa Rica has become a business. Official figures reveal that at least one illegal care center opens its doors every month, however, these facilities do not have the minimum conditions required for the care of seniors.
The Ministry of Health has 89 nursing homes serving nearly 3000 people across the country.
The Guatemalan Institute of Social Security is putting out to tender 105,300 clinical laboratory services for patients in the Department of San Marcos.
Guatemala Government Purchase 3076091:
"Clinical Laboratory Services for Patients in Department of San Marcos who are part of the Guatemalan Institute of Social Security IGSS."
The deadline for submission of proposals is April 9, 2014.
The Ministry of Health will invest $20 million in the creation of an electronic platform for digital medical records.
This system has already been implemented by the Social Security Department (CSS) through the Health Information System.
Javier Díaz, Minister of Health, told Prensa.com "This investment seeks to meet the objectives of the Health Plan for Central America and the Dominican Republic 2010-2015, through which regional policies are defined to improve the health of the population. "
The Costa Rican Social Security Department may have spent that amount on the Single Digital Health Record System.
EDITORIAL
An article in Revistaitnow.com reports that "The Social Security Department of Costa Rica (CCSS by its initials in Spanish) made the investment over a period of 5 years, through which it has implemented all the modules of its files in 30% of primary health care."
Since the opening of the insurance market in 2008, this segment has doubled, being worth $60 million at the end of 2012.
According to figures from the Superintendency of Insurance (SUG), between January and August this year, insurers paid out a total of $34 million in claims for health and accident insurance.
"Of the total paid in the past eight months, 73.2% was disbursed by the National Insurance Institute (INS), 24.7% by Pan American Life Insurance, and the remaining 2.1% corresponded to all other companies." reported Nacion.com.
The Government of Honduras has overturned a drug tender for $24.4 million and announced that the purchase will be made through a trust with private banks.
Elheraldo.hn reports that "the purchase was declared unsuccessful based on the State Procurement Act being contrary to national interests in virtue of the fact that it involves the purchase of medicines at a higher price than currently received by the Health Department through a trust with the private banking system".
Mexico, Spain and Poland are looking to position themselves as medical tourism destinations competing with the traditional ones such as India, Thailand, Brazil and Turkey.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
Besides traditional competitors such as India, Thailand, Brazil and Turkey, new international players such as Mexico, Spain and Poland are now seeking to position themselves as medical tourism destinations. On the one hand is Poland, which through a government program is trying to promote itself as a good country in which to find health treatment, rehabilitation, diagnosis and aesthetics services and, through its participation in three consecutive fairs (Miami 2012, Moscow and Monaco in March 2013), has managed to be taken into account by the experts as a new player in this market.
The Social Security Department has canceled the tender for the installation and maintenance of teleradiology equipment and announced a new contest with new rules.
The Social Security Department (CSS by its initials in Spanish) has suspended the tender after resolving the last complaint submitted Cable & Wireless Panama / Promotion Medical, SA (C & W-Promed) against the second round of bidding in which Cable Onda also participated.