According to the official website of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Guatemala has become the first country in the Americas to use national funding to purchase telehealth equipment through PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds. This milestone is part of a broader strategy to expand telehealth services and strengthen primary health care nationwide.
With an investment that secured more than 1,400 units — including 729 telehealth kits and 729 maternal-fetal monitors — Guatemala is increasing access to specialized care in rural and hard-to-reach communities. So far, over 200 units have already been distributed, helping bring diagnosis, monitoring, and clinical follow-up closer to populations that have historically faced significant access barriers (PAHO official website).
Guatemala’s Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance, Dr. Joaquín Barnoya, described the initiative as a historic step toward modernizing the country’s Integrated Health Services Network through transparent and efficient procurement. He noted that the maternal-fetal monitors will support community-based follow-up, enable earlier identification of pregnancy-related risks, and improve timely referrals for complications (PAHO official website).
PAHO official website
The Telekit Maternity package — combining telehealth kits and maternal-fetal monitors — is designed to strengthen prenatal and maternal health services, particularly in remote regions, by enabling early detection of potential risks and improving continuity of care (PAHO official website).
The telemedicine equipment is part of PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds portfolio, a pooled procurement mechanism that facilitates access to vaccines, medicines, and health technologies across the Americas. According to PAHO, purchasing through the Funds allows countries to access high-quality technologies at more affordable prices through transparent processes, reducing costs compared to individual procurement (PAHO official website).
PAHO representatives emphasized that Guatemala’s decision to use national funds reflects a sustained commitment to digital transformation and health equity, reinforcing primary health care systems while helping reduce inequalities in access to services (PAHO official website).