Introduction
The ongoing medication shortages in public health institutions continue to plague the sector without a clear resolution. Unfinished tenders, outstanding debts to pharmaceutical companies for medication supply and procurement, and the need for regulations providing legal certainty to both public and private entities contribute to this persistent issue.
Current Situation
David Kershenobich, the current Secretary of Health, is familiar with the sector and maintains open communication with both public and private stakeholders. However, the underlying problems remain unresolved.
- Six tenders for medication procurement in 2026 have been delayed due to suspected corruption, leaving no progress.
- These tenders should have been completed by now to ensure medication availability by the end of 2025 or early 2026.
- The lengthy licitation process and the six-month production requirement for requested formulas make it challenging to meet deadlines.
Moreover, there is an outstanding debt of approximately 23,000 million pesos to medication producers, which could rise to 40,000 million pesos soon. This situation may jeopardize several companies as health authorities, including the Secretary of Health, IMSS, and ISSSTE, have not set a payment date or made any payments, continuing to acquire medications without a clear payment schedule.
The regulatory situation is also unclear, with the need to establish a clear medication purchase and supply scheme, licitation dates, medication authorization procedures, and timelines.
- Lack of clarity on these processes has resulted in 7,000 stalled documents and a 40% medication shortage.
- The private sector, while not facing medication shortages, grapples with regulatory issues and the lack of newly authorized molecules in Mexico.
Some private hospitals encounter cost-related challenges, leading to irregularities such as unnecessary hospitalizations, unclear surgeries, and medically unnecessary tests. These issues affect not only patients but also insurance providers.
Insurance companies, which cater to 13 million people, including 16% aged 60 or older generating 44% of healthcare expenses, work to regulate the situation through surveys and open platforms for users to report irregularities. They collaborate with hospital directors to ensure transparency in all expenses.
Public Health Institutions
Public health institutions face significant medication shortages, exacerbated by unclear regulations and the absence of new molecular authorizations in Mexico. This situation hampers efforts to better address diseases.
Some public hospitals struggle with cost-related issues, leading to unnecessary hospitalizations, unclear surgeries, and medically unnecessary tests. These irregularities affect both patients and insurance providers.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the current state of medication availability in public health institutions? Medication shortages persist due to unresolved issues like delayed tenders, outstanding debts to pharmaceutical companies, and unclear regulations.
- Who is David Kershenobich, and what is his role in addressing these issues? David Kershenobich is the current Secretary of Health, who maintains open communication with public and private stakeholders but faces challenges in resolving underlying problems.
- What are the consequences of the outstanding debts to medication producers? The outstanding debt of approximately 23,000 million pesos could rise to 40,000 million pesos, potentially jeopardizing several medication producer companies.
- How does the private health sector contribute to this crisis? While not facing medication shortages, the private sector grapples with regulatory issues and the lack of newly authorized molecules in Mexico.
- What role do insurance companies play in addressing these challenges? Insurance companies, catering to 13 million people, work to regulate the situation through surveys and open platforms for users to report irregularities.
