Medical device & pharmaceutical distribution · Guatemala & El Salvador

Your market entry partner for Guatemala and Central America

Grupo Planck helps medical technology manufacturers register, launch, and scale in Guatemala and El Salvador. We combine multinational commercial discipline with the region's highest compliance standard.

22+
years of combined leadership experience in medical technology
9
specialty segments, a dedicated commercial specialist assigned to each active line
Only
GuateÍntegra-certified medical device distributor in Guatemala
2
countries covered with all required licenses
GuateÍntegra certified · business integrity
MSPAS sanitary license holder
Active UNOPS supplier
Member of the German-Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (AHK)
Guatemala & El Salvador coverage
Why Guatemala

An underserved market with real procurement volume

Guatemala is Central America's largest economy. Its Ministry of Health operates on a US$2.1 billion budget (2026), and the social security institute (IGSS) runs its own procurement with a budget of US$4.2 billion (2026). The 2026 national budget earmarks close to US$200 million for hospital infrastructure, and a fast-growing private hospital sector adds to that demand. Most global manufacturers are still under-represented here. The demand exists; what has been missing is a reliable, compliant channel.

Sources: National Budget 2026, Ministry of Public Finance and Congress of the Republic of Guatemala; IGSS approved budget 2026, Acuerdo No. 1564 de Junta Directiva del IGSS. Figures converted at approximately GTQ 7.7 per US dollar.

Public procurement at scale

IGSS and Ministry of Health tenders, plus international procurement through UNOPS, where Grupo Planck is an active supplier.

A growing private sector

Private hospitals and specialty clinics investing in technology upgrades, concentrated in Guatemala City and secondary cities.

Regional gateway

Our licenses and operations extend to El Salvador, with a roadmap across Central America.

What we do for manufacturers

Everything between your factory and the operating room

We take full ownership of the market: regulatory, commercial, clinical, and technical. You get one accountable partner and clean visibility into your funnel.

R

Regulatory & registration

Sanitary registration and import management under our own license. We carry the regulatory burden so your launch timeline doesn't.

C

Commercial launch

A dedicated specialist per product line, structured launch plans, and CRM-managed pipelines with quarterly reporting you can audit.

E

Clinical education & KOLs

Evidence-based training for physicians and nurses, KOL development, and demo programs that build adoption before the first tender.

T

Public tenders

End-to-end tender management for IGSS, Ministry of Health, and UNOPS processes, from technical specifications to delivery and documentation.

S

Technical service

In-house biomedical engineers for installation, preventive maintenance, and after-sales support, protecting your brand long after the sale.

M

Market intelligence

Procurement data analysis, competitive mapping, and a clear market assessment before you commit. We tell you what the opportunity really is.

Compliance

Compliance your due-diligence team can verify

The company is named after Max Planck as a statement of scientific and ethical principle. We built Grupo Planck for manufacturers whose compliance teams ask hard questions.

  • GuateÍntegra business-integrity certification: the only medical device distributor in Guatemala to hold it
  • Documented anti-corruption policies and transparent interactions with public institutions
  • Audit-ready processes for tenders, pricing, and healthcare-professional engagement
  • Leadership trained in multinational compliance programs
GuateÍntegra
Certified
A business integrity certification that shortens your due diligence from the very first call.
Segments we serve

Nine specialties, a dedicated commercial specialist assigned to each active line

We represent European and US manufacturers across nine clinical segments. Each line is owned by a dedicated commercial specialist with clinical training in that specialty.

01Neurology & Neurosurgery
02Radiology & Imaging
03Cardiology & Vascular
04Oncology
05Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics
06Ophthalmology
07Patient Care
08General Surgery & OR
09Healthcare Software & IT
Leadership

Leadership that has built this market before

Our leadership has spent over a decade launching and scaling multinational medical device portfolios across Guatemala's hospitals, public and private.

Javier Aquino

CEO

Biomedical engineer and commercial leader with over 12 years in medical technology, launching and scaling specialty device portfolios of global manufacturers across Guatemala's public and private hospital systems.

Mechanical Engineer M.Eng. Biomedical Engineering, University of Sydney MBA in Finance, Tulane University

Alejandro Javora

Commercial Director

Mechanical engineer and commercial leader with 10 years in medical technology, building and leading sales teams for specialty device portfolios across Guatemala. Leads Planck's commercial organization and specialist development.

Mechanical Engineer MBA 10+ years sales leadership
Partnership criteria

What we look for in a manufacturing partner

We build representations meant to last. Before taking on a line, we evaluate the fit as carefully as you evaluate us.

Clinical quality first

CE-marked or FDA-cleared products with real clinical evidence. Our specialists put their credibility behind every line they carry.

Commitment to the market

Partners willing to invest in training, demo programs, and registration timelines. Market entry works when both sides treat it as a joint project.

Compliance alignment

Manufacturers whose own standards match ours: transparent pricing, documented interactions, and zero tolerance for shortcuts.

Long-term view

We plan each representation on a multi-year horizon, with an annual business plan and forecasts shared in both directions.

How partnership works

From first call to first purchase order

Market assessment

We map your addressable market in Guatemala: procurement history, competitors, and pricing corridors. Then we give you a clear go or no-go recommendation.

Regulatory pathway

Sanitary registration and importation set up under our own license, with a defined timeline before launch.

Commercial launch

Dedicated specialist assigned, KOLs engaged, demo program deployed, first accounts opened in private and public channels.

Scale & report

Quarterly business reviews, CRM-backed forecasts, tender pipeline, and technical service coverage as the line grows.

Frequently asked questions

What manufacturers ask us first

How long does sanitary registration take in Guatemala?

Most of the registrations we have filed have cleared in 2 to 6 months from complete dossier submission. Registrations run under our own sanitary license with a dedicated regulatory function, so we give you a documented timeline during the market assessment, before you commit, and manage the entire process in-country.

Do you require exclusivity?

We typically work under exclusive distribution agreements for Guatemala, because market development is an investment we make in your brand: KOL relationships, clinical training, and tender positioning take years to build. Scope and terms are defined together during due diligence.

How do you report sales and forecasts?

Every line runs on a CRM-managed pipeline. You receive structured reporting on sales, funnel, forecast, and market activity, monthly or quarterly, in your format if required. Our forecasts are auditable, not aspirational.

Can our compliance team audit your processes?

Yes, and we encourage it. Our GuateÍntegra certification means our anti-corruption policies, tender procedures, and healthcare-professional interactions are already documented and third-party verified. Most of the work your due-diligence team needs to see already exists on paper.

Do you sell to public institutions, private hospitals, or both?

Both. We manage public tenders (IGSS, Ministry of Health, UNOPS) end-to-end, and maintain direct commercial relationships across the private hospital and specialty clinic sector. A balanced channel mix protects your revenue from single-buyer risk.

Who handles installation, service, and training after the sale?

Our in-house biomedical engineers handle installation, preventive maintenance, and technical support locally. Clinical training for physicians and nurses is delivered by the dedicated specialist assigned to your line.

What does it cost to evaluate the opportunity?

Nothing. The initial market assessment is how we decide together whether the partnership makes sense. We would rather tell you "not yet" than launch a line without a real market behind it.

Start the conversation

Evaluating Guatemala? Let's talk.

Tell us about your portfolio and we'll come back within five business days with an initial view of your market opportunity. No commitment required.

Or write to us directly:
partnerships@grupoplanck.com

Request a market assessment

    We reply within five business days. Your information is never shared.