Background on AMIIF and its Relevance
The Asociación Mexicana de Industrias de Investigación Farmacéutica (AMIIF) is a crucial organization representing the Mexican pharmaceutical research industry. Its members are key players in producing and supplying essential medicines to the Mexican healthcare system. AMIIF’s recent alert highlights significant challenges in securing medicine contracts for the 2025-2026 period, which could potentially impact patient care and access to vital treatments.
Current Situation and Concerns
AMIIF reported that 40% of the contracts for consolidated medicine purchases between its member companies and the Mexican government remain unfinalized. Furthermore, 30% of the agreements that have been signed lack replenishment orders. This situation creates uncertainty regarding the availability of treatments, especially those of high specialty and biotechnological nature that require advanced planning, complex logistics, and specific storage conditions.
Impact on Patients and Healthcare System
The delay in formalizing these contracts could lead to shortages or interruptions in therapies for patients within the public health system, particularly in critical areas such as oncology, rare diseases, and biotechnological treatments. Out of the contracts already formalized by AMIIF’s member companies, only 70% have replenishment orders, which are necessary to initiate medicine deliveries.
AMIIF’s Recommendations
To avoid potential disruptions in medicine supply and patient care, AMIIF urged the government to prioritize quality, transparency, and sustainability in public procurement policies. They also emphasized the importance of working with technically capable suppliers and maintaining transparent, sustainable processes that ensure timely access to innovative therapies.
Recent Government Initiatives
The Mexican government recently conducted an urgent purchase of 85 million units, including 21 key oncology medications. AMIIF acknowledged this as a positive step towards restoring trust in the public medicine supply system. Through consolidated medicine purchases, the government licited 4,454 keys equivalent to 4.934 billion units, which will be distributed among 26 health institutions, including IMSS, ISSSTE, and others, from 2025 to 2026.
Challenges in Medicine Acquisition
The process of acquiring medical products has faced complications, with industry representatives reporting inconsistencies in the bidding process. The Secretaría de Anticorrupción y Buen Gobierno initiated investigations that uncovered irregularities, such as overpriced purchases amounting to 13 billion pesos and falsified documents by some bidding companies.
Government Response and Ongoing Efforts
Following the detection of irregularities, the Secretaría Anticorrupción y Buen Gobierno declared the nullity of the entire bidding process and initiated a contract replacement procedure for compliant companies. As of May 14, new contracts began to be formalized based on confirmed supplier compliance and competitive conditions.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is AMIIF and why is its alert important? AMIIF represents Mexico’s pharmaceutical research industry. Their recent alert highlights significant challenges in securing medicine contracts for the 2025-2026 period, which could impact patient care and access to vital treatments.
- What percentage of medicine purchase contracts are delayed? 40% of the contracts for consolidated medicine purchases between AMIIF member companies and the Mexican government remain unfinalized.
- What are replenishment orders, and why are they crucial? Replenishment orders are necessary to initiate medicine deliveries. Without them, pharmaceutical companies cannot fulfill delivery obligations, potentially causing treatment interruptions.
- What are the potential consequences of these delays? Delays could lead to shortages or interruptions in therapies for patients within the public health system, particularly in critical areas like oncology and rare diseases.
- What steps is the Mexican government taking to address these issues? The government has initiated an urgent purchase of 85 million units, including key oncology medications. They are also working to ensure transparent and sustainable procurement processes following the nullification of irregular biddings.
