OREANDA-NEWS.  Latin American high population growth, rising middle class and increasing access to healthcare driving rapid expansion in healthcare consumption

UPS (NYSE: UPS), a global leader in logistics, today held a ribbon cutting ceremony to welcome its new UPS healthcare-dedicated facility in Cuautitlan Izcalli, State of Mexico, which is slated to open later this year. The building provides more than 78,000 square feet of space equipped with specialized technology for the distribution of medicines and healthcare equipment that will provide highly qualified services and capabilities to clinics, distributors, pharmacies and patients.
Over the coming months, in addition to its building in State of México, Mexico, UPS will open and expand new facilities in São Paulo, Brazil; and Santiago, Chile, highlighting its continued investment in the region. The expansion of the three healthcare-dedicated facilities, which are located in the largest consumption sites within each country, are part of the company's strategy to address the high growth medical device and pharmaceutical consumption markets throughout Latin America.
The latest installments, when paired with UPS's current presence in the region, mean nearly 70 percent of the total healthcare consumption and manufacturing markets in Latin America are easily reached through the UPS network. This expands UPS's reach in Mexico and Brazil, which are two of the top 15 healthcare consumption markets worldwide. According to a 2012 pharmaceutical report issued by Mexico's Ministry of Economy, Mexico is the second largest market in the healthcare industry in the region, operating 14 of the top 15 international healthcare companies. The country is a major producer of high-tech medicine, including antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and other widely used healthcare products.  
"The opening of these facilities are a part of UPS's ongoing strategy to expand its footprint in vital markets and continued investment in technology to meet the demands of our customers," said Romaine Seguin, president for UPS Americas Region. "Each expansion is designed to ensure we deliver service excellence.  Our mission, which is posted in every UPS healthcare facility around the world, reminds employees that 'It's A Patient, Not A Package®' as we put in place dedicated solutions and specially trained people who bring the mantra to life."
The growing middle class is expected to exceed one billion by 2020 globally, contributing to the increase in healthcare demand across emerging markets worldwide, including Latin America. Reaching new markets was identified by nearly 80 percent of healthcare executives in UPS's most recent annual study, "Pain in the (Supply) Chain," which measures decision makers' concerns in healthcare logistics. Additionally, the increase in healthcare accessibility is providing an opportunity for companies, where healthcare is being provided for the first time to a large part of the population.
"Latin America represents a strong growth opportunity for healthcare companies and providers who rely on UPS's network of dedicated facilities, air freight, and safety and compliance expertise to support their business goals," said John Menna, UPS vice president, Global Healthcare Strategy. "These facilities offer greater access to the best-in-class logistics solutions for pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies serving Latin America, giving global healthcare customers the confidence they need."
Each facility is compliant with global, regional and local regulations and designed to support healthcare products for both pharmaceutical and medical device companies. UPS healthcare clients can also take advantage of a single global IT platform, providing a seamless experience and end-to-end supply chain visibility.