Introduction to the Current Healthcare Situation in Mexico
One of the most pressing issues faced by the current administration, a direct inheritance from the previous government’s mistakes, is the deterioration of the healthcare sector. During Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s six-year term, Mexico encountered one of the most severe pandemics in recent history. This situation exposed the system’s enormous deficiencies: lack of infrastructure, low salaries for medical and nursing staff, and the government’s reluctance to hire more personnel or adequately equip healthcare institutions.
The Corruption Argument and its Consequences
The central argument, as always, was corruption in medicine procurement and within healthcare institutions. The result is evident: a collapsed system. Anyone who has visited public clinics can attest to not only the shortage of medications but also the deplorable conditions in which much of the system operates.
Medication Distribution: A Persistent Problem
One of the most delicate issues has been medication distribution. The shortage persists despite the former president’s repeated denials and promises of a swift resolution. The contradiction extends to the new government, where officials claim there is no scarcity but are working to reverse it.
Recent Developments and Concerns
Here, it’s necessary to pause. Although I have been critical of these decisions, recent actions appear promising. The implementation of a reverse auction mechanism for medication procurement reportedly saved around 12 billion pesos, according to official data. The move was announced during the president’s morning press conference and celebrated by the undersecretary of health.
However, this optimism is short-lived. A week prior, during the same press conference, it was announced that starting with biannual medication purchases in 2026, pharmaceutical companies will be required to prove their investments in domestic territory.
Government Intervention and Business Logic
On the surface, this sounds good. Even tax incentives and facilitation for businesses investing in Mexico, with a focus on BIRMEX, the state-owned vaccine producer, were announced. However, several questions arise. Should the government dictate where and how a company should reinvest its profits? Investment decisions are based on efficiency, profitability, and regulatory environment, not ideological decrees.
Forcing foreign investment under this logic does not promote development; it distorts it. To genuinely attract productive capital, a stable business environment, clear rules, infrastructure, and legal certainty are needed. Imposing conditions reminiscent of failed past models is not the solution.
State-Owned Enterprises and Market Efficiency
Moreover, why maintain a state-owned enterprise for vaccine production? What justifies the government’s productive role in sectors where the market has demonstrated greater efficiency? Recent experiences with Pemex, CFE, and the failed Gas Bienestar program serve as examples of the high fiscal cost and low profitability of such public ventures.
Inefficient and Irresponsible Policies
Attempting to resolve such a delicate issue as medication access through statist policies and coercive mechanisms is not only inefficient but also irresponsible. It’s trying to cure the healthcare system’s cancer with the same formulas that made it sick decades ago.
The Impact on Citizens
Meanwhile, the reality prevails. Citizens continue to bear the brunt of medication shortages, personnel deficiencies, and inadequate infrastructure. Those who daily face the frustration of delayed medical attention are the ones paying the price.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are the main issues in Mexico’s healthcare sector? The primary concerns include insufficient infrastructure, low medical staff salaries, and reluctance to hire more personnel or equip institutions adequately.
- How has the recent reverse auction for medication procurement impacted the system? It reportedly saved around 12 billion pesos, but its long-term effectiveness remains to be seen.
- What are the concerns regarding government intervention in pharmaceutical investments? Critics argue that dictating investment locations and logic contradicts the principles of efficiency, profitability, and regulatory environment.
- Why are state-owned enterprises in sectors like vaccine production a cause for concern? There is skepticism about the government’s productive role in sectors where market efficiency has been demonstrated.
- How have past public ventures in Mexico fared? Examples like Pemex, CFE, and Gas Bienestar highlight high fiscal costs and low profitability.
