Background on Key Figures and Relevance
Patrick Devlyn, President of the Health Commission at the Mexican Employers’ Coordinating Council (CCE), has raised concerns regarding the financial viability of pharmaceutical companies due to unpaid debts by the federal government. These outstanding payments, many dating back to 2021, total approximately 40,000 million pesos.
Current Situation and Calls for Action
Devlyn emphasized the urgency to address these overdue payments, stating that resolving past issues will prevent further accumulation of debts for future periods. He proposed a collaborative meeting with representatives from the Secretariats of Health and Finance, as well as IMSS-Bienestar, to systematically clear the outstanding payments.
Collaboration with Birmex and Health Authorities
Devlyn also suggested arranging another meeting with Laboratorios de Biológicos y Reactivos de México (Birmex) and relevant Health Secretariat authorities. The aim is to jointly plan the upcoming 2027-2028 public tender, ensuring successful execution and avoiding cancellations.
Importance of Transparent Planning
Devlyn highlighted the significance of transparent and well-planned public tenders, which foster competition among participants. This leads to better pricing for medications and medical devices, ultimately benefiting patients.
Key Pillars for Sustainable Procurement
Devlyn reiterated that regulatory and financial certainty are crucial for maintaining a stable procurement process. This stability not only supports the financial viability of companies but also encourages competition, ensuring a steady supply of medical products for patients.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Patrick Devlyn and why is he relevant? Patrick Devlyn is the President of the Health Commission at the Mexican Employers’ Coordinating Council (CCE). He is raising concerns about unpaid debts owed by the federal government to pharmaceutical companies, which threaten their financial viability.
- What is the total amount of overdue payments? The federal government owes approximately 40,000 million pesos to pharmaceutical companies, with many payments dating back to 2021.
- What actions is Devlyn proposing? Devlyn suggests a collaborative meeting with relevant government representatives to clear outstanding payments systematically. He also proposes joint planning of the 2027-2028 public tender with Birmex and Health Secretariat authorities to ensure successful execution.
- Why is transparent planning important? Transparent and well-planned public tenders foster competition, leading to better pricing for medications and medical devices, ultimately benefiting patients.
- What are the key pillars for sustainable procurement? Regulatory and financial certainty are essential for maintaining a stable procurement process, supporting both company viability and encouraging competition to ensure steady medical product supply for patients.
