US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA874

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000874 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB/CBA, WHA/CEN 
GUATEMALA FOR COMATT 
USDOC FOR SIMON FRANCIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, ECON, HO 
SUBJECT:  HONDURAS IMPORT REGULATIONS FOR USED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT 
 
REFTEL: USDOC 00292 
 
1.  This cable is in response to reftel, which requested an 
update on the feasibility of exporting used medical 
equipment to Honduras. 
 
2.  According to the Honduran Customs and Tax Division, 
there are no quotas for the importation of remanufactured, 
rebuilt, and/or used medical equipment to Honduras.  There 
are no tariffs on most imported medical devices considered 
to be capital goods, including used equipment.  For 
consumable medical products, tariffs range from 0 to 15 
percent.  A Customs agent carries out the appraisals for 
remanufactured, rebuilt, and/or used medical devices, 
including reprocessed, single-use devices at the port of 
entry.  (These appraisals are used to determine applicable 
sales taxes.)  Used medical equipment and supplies are not 
subject to government certification, inspection, or 
regulation. 
 
3.  According to a major U.S. medical equipment supplier, 
Honduras is the number one importer of medical equipment in 
the Central American region, making it an important market 
for U.S. medical equipment exporters.  One manufacturer has 
sold magnetic resonance equipment to private hospitals in 
San Pedro Sula, making Honduras one of the first countries 
in the Latin American region to import this kind of 
sophisticated technology in the health sector. 
 
4.  At present, public health institutions are only allowed to 
purchase medical equipment and supplies through public and 
international bids.  However, these requests for bids typically 
solicit new equipment, rather than used.  Bids are managed 
through UNDP (see www.undp.un.hn/licitaciones), with the funds 
for purchasing products often provided by the World Bank, Inter- 
American Bank for Development, or international donors.  Each 
international funding organization specifies the bidding 
procedures and equipment specifications. 
5.  Due to a marked decrease in the availability of international 
development funds for medical equipment purchases, hospitals are 
beginning to secure medical equipment through a mechanism called 
"Por Dato."  Under this system, a contract is signed, and the 
medical facility pays a fee based upon equipment usage.  It is 
not considered a finance lease, as at the end of the contract 
period, the equipment is returned to a local provider.  The 
medical facility has no intention of keeping the equipment.  Any 
company providing equipment under this system must be registered 
as distributors/representatives in the Ministry of Industry and 
Commerce. 
6.  Approximately 30 percent of medical equipment imported into 
Honduras is used or re-conditioned. The main buyers of 
refurbished/used equipment are private hospitals. An increasing 
number of opportunities are opening to companies who supply parts 
and service for medical equipment. Even though the government 
doesn't purchase used equipment, it sometimes obtains this 
equipment from foreign countries and will, therefore, be in need 
of local technical service and parts. 
7.  The medical equipment brands of greatest demand in Honduras 
are General Electric, Storz, Medtronic, Ortosintese, Getinge 
Casde, Wlchallyn, and Aesculap.  Among the best prospects are X- 
ray and monitoring equipment, hospital beds, wheelchairs, 
uniforms, lab coats, stethoscopes, liftman stethoscopes, 
thermometers, breast pumps, scissors, dental care equipment, 
digital blood pressure equipment, ophthalmoscopes, eye exam kits, 
examination gloves, heart rate monitoring equipment, X-ray view 
boxes, blood chemistry and collection equipment, sterilizing 
equipment, instrument cleaners, instrument lubricants, ultrasonic 
cleaners, rapid diagnostic test kits, surgery and intensive-care 
equipment, and disposable medical supplies. 
8.  For additional information on the market for used and 
refurbished medical equipment in Honduras, please contact Roy 
Alonzo at the Commercial Service Office in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 
tel. (504) 238-5114, fax (504) 238-2888, Roy.Alonzo@mail.doc.gov. 
PIERCE