$1 billion needed to heal state medical care in Guatemala

Guatemala's state-owned health care Social Security Institute aims to spend $1 billion this year in public works, technology and the purchase of medicines in order to redeem its current state, which the director, Carlos Contreras describes as "catastrophic".

Contreras says there is a lack of coordination, involving appointments, specialists, processes, technology and infrastructure that will take years to put right.

This year investments will begin in a new prototype for hospitals that is to be introduced throughout the country.