Import Vélez
Building Reliable Access to Specialized Medical Technologies

Dr. Carlos Vélez, President

What role does Import Vélez play in addressing gaps in medical product availability?

When critical medical needs outpace product availability, Import Vélez restores balance. For more than five decades, it has introduced into the Argentine healthcare market specialized medical products that align with the evolving requirements of medical professionals. Beyond operating as a traditional importer and distributor, it is a development partner, working closely with international manufacturers to deliver products that adhere to strict regulatory and quality standards.

Direct engagement with the medical community plays a central role in this approach. Instead of relying solely on desk-based research, it participates in medical congresses, professional exhibitions and physician discussions. These interactions reveal product requirements that are not yet widely available in local markets.

“Markets are not simply waiting to be analyzed on a spreadsheet,” says Dr. Carlos Vélez, president. “They reveal themselves when you spend time with physicians and understand how their daily practice is evolving.”

Dr. Vélez’s operating philosophy can be summarized through a simple balance; 50 percent discovery, 30 percent attitude, and 20 percent technological development. Discovery, driven by observation and interaction, is the starting point. Long-standing manufacturing partners translate the requirements into products through the application of responsible technology. These manufacturers operate under internationally recognized standards, ensuring that healthcare professionals have reliable access to specialized medical supplies.

An innovative portfolio serves specialists across aesthetic medicine, dermatology, prolotherapy and diagnostic monitoring. It includes needles used in aesthetic procedures, facial filler cannulas, products for prolotherapy and homotoxicology, disposable syringes, and medical gloves. The portfolio also includes Rymco two-piece syringes without a rubber plunger, a differentiated product produced in Latin America.

Discovering Market Needs Through Close Physician Engagement

How does direct engagement with physicians influence the development of specialized medical products?

Many of Import Vélez’s products originated from direct interactions with physicians. As medical practices evolve, practitioners often require medical products with specific dimensions or design characteristics. For instance, many dermatologists now combine traditional dermatology practice with aesthetic procedures such as botulinum toxin injections and hyaluronic acid fillers, which require specialized needles and cannulas. These needs are addressed through targeted product introductions.

The same needle later found applications in prolotherapy and other emerging treatments.

Listening closely to practitioners has helped Import Vélez expand its portfolio to include many such devices used in aesthetic and regenerative medicine.

Building Global Partnerships for High-Quality Medical Supplies

Why is global supplier evaluation critical for ensuring quality and compliance in medical products?

To ensure consistent product quality and supply reliability, potential suppliers are evaluated based on compliance with internationally recognized certifications. It works with a network of global manufacturing partners that operate under strict standards such as FDA and CE requirements, ISO 13485 quality management systems, and multi-country audit programs such as MDSAP. This review is supported by a documentation-first approach, where certifications, manufacturing processes, and compliance records are examined in depth before a product is considered for the market.

“We prioritize the quality and excellence of our products, the reliability of our technology, and the safety we provide to the professionals who use our products in their work,” says Dr. Vélez.

Careful selection of compliant manufacturers has facilitated enduring partnerships across regions. In Japan, it collaborates with needle manufacturers such as Misawa, known for precision engineering and large-scale production capabilities. Misawa produce billions of hypodermic needles annually, supporting healthcare systems worldwide.

In Malaysia, Import Vélez partners with WRP Asia Pacific, a manufacturer of powder-free latex gloves that feature textured fingertips designed to enhance grip and control for medical professionals.

Close ties are maintained with Innovative Tech in Colombia. Together, they manufacture a line of two- and three-part disposable syringes built to international medical standards. Through this partnership, the company has also become the only producer in Latin America of the Rymco Medical syringes. Traditional syringes rely on a rubber plunger seal to create the necessary pressure for injection. In certain cases, this component can leave microscopic residue or trigger allergic reactions in sensitive patients. The two-piece design eliminates the rubber element entirely, replacing it with a precise plastic fit between the plunger and the syringe barrel.

Dr. Vélez frequently visits the production facilities to maintain these relationships. The exchanges provide insight into new technologies and manufacturing processes while enabling the company to share developments from the Argentine market.

Designing Products That Address Real-World Healthcare Needs

In what way does product design address accessibility, sustainability, and real-world healthcare challenges?

Building on its role as a development partner, Import Vélez has also contributed to product development initiatives when market gaps become apparent. One such gap was the growing need for accessible tools that support preventive health monitoring, particularly as life expectancy increases. In response, it developed the Agostina digital blood pressure monitor, designed to help individuals measure their blood pressure at home. The initiative also reflected a long-standing concern about environmental sustainability. Most digital blood pressure monitors rely entirely on disposable batteries, which are environmental pollutants when discarded.

“Our company’s culture emphasizes protecting the environment,” says Dr. Vélez. “Our main aim was to incorporate a product whose technology respected the environment while still being functional.”

Import Vélez worked with its manufacturing partner to develop an alternative solution that could operate electrically while still retaining portability. The final device was designed to operate either through an electrical connection or by battery power, providing flexibility for users while aligning with its focus on environmental sustainability.

As development progressed, it began focusing on another important objective; making the device accessible to users of all ages. Many older adults struggle to measure their own blood pressure with traditional monitors. To address this challenge, the Agostina monitor was designed with large digital numbers, a bright display, and simplified operation, allowing users to read results easily without glasses or additional medical equipment. The device also includes arrhythmia detection through an image indicator. Patients can photograph the display and send the information to their physician for remote evaluation.

A Long-Term Vision Built on Discipline and Continuous Learning

Import Vélez attributes much of its longevity to organizational discipline and a long-term perspective on market development. It emphasizes careful planning, responsible commitments, and continuous professional education. Internal training programs provide employees with opportunities to update their knowledge of medical technologies, regulatory standards, and evolving medical practices. In 2025 alone, it provided approximately 432 hours of internal and external training programs for its staff.

At the same time, it maintains strong connections with academic institutions and professional organizations. Dr. Vélez regularly participates in university activities and encourages collaboration between companies and educational institutions to support the development of future medical professionals.

Healthcare infrastructure is supported through equipment donations to hospitals and clinical departments. Over the past several years, it has supported medical institutions with diagnostic devices such as echocardiographs for cardiology units. These initiatives reflect Import Vélez’s broader view that healthcare businesses operate within a wider ecosystem that includes physicians, universities and hospitals.

Import Vélez continues to strengthen its partnerships with global manufacturers, guided by the principles that have shaped its development; careful market observation, active collaboration, and a commitment to delivering reliable medical technologies.