The business sector in Nicaragua reported that private hospitals asked to be authorized to perform the tests that can determine if a person is a virus carrier, but so far they have not received a response.
Representatives of the Consejo Superior de la Empresa Privada (COSEP) explained that the Ministry of Health (Minsa) tests are done manually and private laboratories perform them automatically.
As a result of the Coronavirus emergency, the CABEI granted each of the Central American countries financial resources for the purchase of medicines and medical supplies.
The international organization reported that it granted non-reimbursable financial cooperation in the amount of up to $8,000,000 distributed in $1,000,000 to each Central American country, including Belize, to attend to the health emergency.
From January to September 2019, companies in the region bought vaccines for human use abroad for $154 million, 56% more than what was reported for the same period in 2018, a rise that is mainly explained by the behavior of imports in Panama.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
From January to September 2019, pharmaceutical product imports in Central America totaled $2.614 million, 8% more than in the same period in 2018, with El Salvador, Panama and Costa Rica being the markets where purchases increased the most.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption "Click to interact with graphics"]
Elvatron, Seven Pharma, J.I. Cohen, Aceti-Oxigen and Baxter are some of the companies that won contracts to provide medicines and pharmaceutical products to public health institutions in the region last year.
An analysis by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData provides interesting data on the companies that were favored with contracts to provide pharmaceutical products and medical supplies to the several Ministries of Health and Social Security entities in Central American countries in 2019.
During the first semester of 2019, companies from Central American countries bought $20 million in vaccines for animal use abroad, and 55% was imported by companies in Guatemala and Costa Rica.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
From January to October 2019, purchases of pharmaceutical products made by Central American countries from companies in Mexico totaled $232 million, and 63% was purchased by companies in Panama and Costa Rica.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
In the first half of 2019, purchases of vaccines for human use in Central America totaled $122 million, 116% more than was reported in the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In the first six months of the year, imports of pharmaceutical products in Central America totaled $1.717 million, 8% more than in the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
In the first quarter of 2019, purchases of vaccines for human use in Central America totaled $66 million, 347% more than was reported in the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Because the country produces only 6% of the medicines demanded, there are several business opportunities that can be explored by industry businessmen.
Currently, local manufacturers do not have the capacity to produce and supply the Panamanian market, which has generated several business opportunities for several companies.
In the first three months of the year, imports of pharmaceutical products in Central America totaled $835 million, 15% more than in the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In the first half of 2019, purchases of pharmaceutical products made by Central American countries to companies in Mexico totaled $140 million, 7% less than in the same period of 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]