Healthcare and pharmaceutical logistics

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Healthcare and pharmaceutical logistics

Logistics for medical devices medicines, cosmetics, and personal hygiene products.

This includes medical appliances, medical and surgical instruments, Covid-19 protective equipment, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, cosmetics, creams, moisturizing lotions, beauty products, and makeup.

Get a competitive advantage in your international operations. We offer comprehensive solutions in Panama, bringing together all of the services involved in imports and re-exports.

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IMPORTING AND EXPORTING MEDICAL DEVICES, PHARMACEUTICALS, AND COSMETICS

If you’re looking to import to or export medical supplies, drugs, and cosmetics from Panama, you’ll need the permission of the Ministry of Health (MINSA in its Spanish acronym) provided either via the Directorate of Medical Devices or the National Directorate of Pharmacy and Drugs.

International trade in medical supplies, cosmetics, and drugs in Panama is regulated by:

We provide specialized services for all of the following products

MEDICAL DEVICES

Medical devices, medical and surgical instruments, medical supplies, facemasks, orthopedics, eyewear, first aid kits, dental supplies, etc.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Approval from the National Directorate of Medical Devices when they are institutional and hospital purchases (Social Security Fund, MINSA).

COVID TESTS

Covid-19 diagnostic tests. Various kinds of antigen and antibody tests: PCR tests, immunological tests, and rapid lateral flow tests.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Covid tests have to be approved by the Gorgas Memorial Laboratory (Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas in Spanish), which will review the technical criteria, specifications, source information, and sample analysis confirming their use and effectiveness.

MEDICINES AND PHARMACEUTICALS

Medicines whose purpose is preventing, alleviating, curing or improving the state of health of sick people or which change their physiological state. Pills, syrups, injectables, etc.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Health registration issued by the Ministry of Health.
  • Compliance with regulations on safety and good manufacturing practices, storage, transportation, and distribution; MINSA issues licenses for each category.
  • Approval from the Ministry of Health.

COSMETICS AND PERSONAL HYGIENE

Perfumes, cosmetics, creams, moisturizing lotions, beauty products, make-up, nail polish, personal hygiene products, etc.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Health registration issued by the Ministry of Health.
  • Compliance with regulations on safety and good manufacturing practices, storage, transportation, and distribution; MINSA issues licenses for each category.
  • Approval from the Ministry of Health.

  • IMPORTING COSMETICS, MEDICAL DEVICES, AND PHARMACEUTICALS

    We support you throughout the whole import process and also help you with the special customs procedures required for this kind of products once the goods arrive. The main products and countries for imports to Panama are:

    • Medical devices (antibacterial gel, face shields, gloves including surgical gloves, gowns, protective caps, shoe covers, facemasks, safety glasses, ventilators, thermometers, etc.) imported mainly from China.
    • Covid tests imported mainly from the United States and China.
    • Cosmetics imported mainly from Colombia, Spain, France, and Brazil.
    • Pharmaceuticals imported mainly from France, Mexico, Italy, and Spain.

  • RE-EXPORTING PHARMACEUTICALS

    Panama’s geographical location and flexible logistics (free trade zones, quick procedures, etc.) make it an excellent hub for shipping and exports (with prior warehouse sorting if required) in LCL, FCL, and air freight.

    • Product shipments from Panama are mainly for pharmaceutical products to countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Netherlands Antilles, Aruba, Czech Republic, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Belize, Bahamas, Peru, Montenegro, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Costa Rica.

SERVICES FOR HEALTHCARE AND PHARMACEUTICAL LOGISTICS

Our specialist healthcare logistics division, which deals with both imports and re-exports, is at your disposal and can help you to obtain a competitive advantage as well as complying with legal and logistics requirements:

  • We offer comprehensive solutions, bringing together all of the services involved in import/ export.
  • Our distinctive approach is based on following the entire import process from its point of origin to its final destination.
  • We put at your service our specialized team for the study and analysis of all logistical and documentary needs.
  • Each product and each client receive a unique service. We study each step, contacting your supplier at the point of origin, if necessary, in order to ensure that the product complies with the relevant import/export requirements.

A SPECIALISED HEALTHCARE LOGISTICS DIVISION

SERVICES FOR THE HEALTHCARE AND PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES

  • ADVICE ON HEALTHCARE LOGISTICS

    If you’re looking to purchase goods, we can advise you about which documents (permits, licenses) the consignee needs for the type of merchandise in order to comply with the Panamanian authorities’ requirements.

  • INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION

    We always offer the most appropriate shipping, airfreight or trucking options depending on the urgency and special features of the operation. Goods with no temperature requirements can be handled by LCL, FCL, and airfreight. By contrast, goods which do need controlled temperature have to go by FCL or airfreight. These goods are generally needed in a hurry so they are usually handled by air.

    There are also some specific points about international transportation for these types of goods:

    • Medical supplies: in most cases they do not call for special handling and/or environments. They are shipped by sea or air based on the consignee’s need and urgency.
    • Covid tests: some tests can be shipped without temperature control while others do need it.
    • Cosmetics: cosmetics tend to be fairly robust and in most cases are not likely to be damaged in transit.
    • Drugs: as a general rule drugs are needed as a matter of urgency so most of them are handled by air as this is the fastest option. This includes antineoplastics (used in treating cancer), injectables, blood products, and retrovirals (to treat HIV). These products have to be shipped in an isotherm fridge inside a temperature-controlled container. They are usually high value.

  • CUSTOMS CLEARANCE

    We have specialists in customs clearance for this type of product. We make sure your goods reach their destination with no last-minute hitches.

  • APPROVED WAREHOUSES

    Consignees in Panama can also use approved warehouses, including temperature-controlled facilities (2° to 8°C, 15° to 25°C, and -20°C). These warehouses provide picking and packing, labeling, palletizing, and other related services.

WHO ARE OUR HEALTHCARE LOGISTICS SERVICES AIMED AT?

Importers and exporters of cosmetics, personal care products, medical devices, biocides, skin sanitisers, food supplements and medicines in Panama:

  • Manufacturers and producers in foreign countries that want to bring their products into Panama.
  • Panamanian companies looking to re-export safely and in compliance with applicable regulations.
  • Drug intermediaries, distributors, and brokers that need to maintain the cold chain for their products.
  • End customers, medical centers, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, etc.

SOME OF OUR PROJECTS

Some of our healthcare and pharmaceutical logistics services

Air shipments of hazardous and temperature-controlled cargo

Temperature-controlled logistics services with nighttime/early morning deliveries for the leading Panamanian organization engaged in Covid-19 research for the WHO.

Medical device importation and distribution

We carry out FCL imports of hospital facemasks and shoe covers which we then ship to our warehouses where we provide local logistics and distribution services.

Medical device LCL

We carry ouy various LCL shipments of facemasks and other medical devices.

Temperature-controlled airfreight

We carry out air shipments of temperature-sensitive cargo such as Covid tests and other medicines..
Find out about our specialized logistics services for the healthcare industry. Share your project with us and we’ll provide you with the solution that best suits your needs.
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