Background on the Key Player and Relevance
Patrick Devlyn, President of the Health Commission at the Mexican Business Coordinating Council (CCE), has raised concerns regarding the financial viability of pharmaceutical companies due to unpaid debts totaling 40,000 million pesos by the federal government. These outstanding payments have accumulated since 2021 and are threatening the stability of these companies.
Current Situation and Calls for Action
Devlyn emphasized the urgency to address these overdue payments with greater determination, stating that resolving past issues from 2021, 2023, and 2024 will prevent further escalation of debts. He also proposed finding a simpler and more transparent mechanism to keep up-to-date with recent product and medication deliveries.
Proposed Solutions
- Collaborative Meeting: Devlyn suggested convening a “collaborative, proactive, and constructive” meeting with representatives from the Secretariats of Health and Finance, as well as IMSS-Bienestar, to gradually clear the outstanding payments.
- Birmex and Health Authorities Meeting: He also proposed arranging another meeting with Laboratorios de Biológicos y Reactivos de México (Birmex) and health authorities to collaboratively plan the upcoming public tender for the 2027-2028 period, ensuring timely deliveries.
Devlyn stressed the importance of a well-planned, transparent new tender process to encourage competition and secure better prices for medications and medical devices.
Importance of Clear Regulations and Financial Stability
Devlyn highlighted that regulatory and financial certainty are crucial for maintaining a stable acquisition process. This stability not only ensures the financial viability of companies but also fosters competition and guarantees the availability of medical products for patients.
He clarified that the objective is not to overcharge, demand early payments, or request favors but to ensure timely access to appropriate payments for laboratories and medical device companies to continue their operations, pay employees, and fulfill supplier obligations.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Patrick Devlyn? Patrick Devlyn is the President of the Health Commission at the CCE, representing the interests of pharmaceutical and medical device companies in Mexico.
- What is the main issue? The federal government owes pharmaceutical companies approximately 40,000 million pesos in unpaid debts, accumulating since 2021 and threatening their financial stability.
- What solutions has Devlyn proposed? Devlyn suggested a collaborative meeting with relevant government bodies to clear outstanding payments and another meeting with Birmex and health authorities to plan the upcoming public tender transparently.
- Why is regulatory and financial certainty important? Regulatory and financial stability are essential for maintaining a reliable acquisition process, fostering competition, and ensuring the availability of medical products for patients.
