Marco Belmonte / Page Seven Digital
Last year (data as of November) the import of medical products against Covid-19 decreased by 11% in volume and 10% in value compared to a similar period in 2020, according to the Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade (IBCE).
Between 2019 and 2020, imports of medical products against the coronavirus totaled 914 million dollars, for the purchase of 269,000 tons.
In 2020, external purchases of these products grew by 39% in value and 18% in volume, compared to 2019.
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As of November 2021, imports of medical products against Covid-19 fell 11% in value and reached 437 million dollars and in volume 119,446 tons, 10% less.
The largest supplier was China, which reached 90 million dollars, that is, 21% of the total imported.
Among the main medical products against Covid-19 imported as of November 2021 are medicines for human use, which represented 24% of the total imported with a value of 103 million dollars.
Then there are tensoactive preparations for 29 million dollars, diagnostic or laboratory reagents for 25 million dollars, medical and surgical instruments and apparatus for 15 million dollars, protective masks for 14 million dollars, drugs containing antibiotics for 13 million dollars. million dollars, acrylic polymers in primary forms for 11 million dollars, and medicines with vitamins for 11 million dollars.
In addition, a total of 209 products were purchased from abroad.
48% of the medical products against Covid-19 went to Santa Cruz, 36% to La Paz, 10% to Cochabamba, 4% to Oruro and 3% to the rest of the departments, according to the IBCE.
