Subsecretary Eduardo Clark Outlines Opportunities for Local Production
Introduction:
The Mexican government, through the Secretary of Health, is actively seeking to decrease reliance on imported medicines and medical supplies. Subsecretary Eduardo Clark highlighted the potential for Mexico to become a production and export hub, emphasizing adherence to international protocols and competitive production times.
Current Situation
Mexico currently spends approximately 330,000 million pesos every two years on medication purchases, with nearly half of that amount allocated to single-source and innovative drugs, most of which are imported.
The demand for medicines is both high and urgent, with 17% of the population living with diabetes and nearly half of adults suffering from hypertension. The subsecretary described the portfolio of medications for metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, as “brutal.”
Mexico’s Advantages and Challenges
Clark outlined Mexico’s advantages for attracting pharmaceutical industry relocation, including its proximity to major international markets, particularly North America, and the significant patient population in the public sector that can drive investment returns through public purchases.
However, he acknowledged that Mexico is not currently the most competitive market compared to smaller countries with fewer patients and less economic relevance. To address this, the government aims to enhance Mexico’s productivity by adhering to international protocols and offering competitive clinical trial timelines.
Prioritized Projects
The transformation of the Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks (Cofepris) in clinical research and process digitization has been a priority for the current administration. These improvements aim to position Mexico as an attractive destination for pharmaceutical companies.
Call for Collaboration
Clark emphasized the importance of cooperation between government, industry, and patients to translate shared goals into tangible public policies.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Mexican government’s goal regarding medicine and medical supply imports? The Mexican government aims to reduce its dependence on imported medicines and medical supplies, fostering local production and making Mexico a hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and exports.
- Why is the Mexican government focusing on this initiative? The high and urgent demand for medicines, coupled with the significant costs of imports, has prompted the government to seek local production opportunities. Additionally, Mexico’s strategic location and large patient population present unique advantages for attracting pharmaceutical investment.
- What challenges does Mexico face in this endeavor? Despite its advantages, Mexico is not currently the most competitive market for pharmaceutical production. The government aims to address this by improving adherence to international protocols and offering competitive clinical trial timelines.
- What projects has the Mexican government prioritized to support this initiative? The transformation of Cofepris in clinical research and process digitization has been a key focus for the current administration to enhance Mexico’s attractiveness as a pharmaceutical production destination.
- How can collaboration contribute to the success of this initiative? Cooperation between government, industry, and patients is essential to translate shared goals into effective public policies that support local pharmaceutical production.
