Introduction
The announcement of Plan Mexico brought a sense of hope, but it is now overshadowed by an issue that has become increasingly apparent: the growing debt of approximately 8,000 million pesos owed to medical suppliers, pharmaceuticals, and equipment manufacturers. This debt, inherited from the ill-fated Insabi program since 2021, has exposed chronic planning and coordination problems within Mexico’s healthcare system.
Background and Causes
The transition from the Seguro Popular to Insabi and then to IMSS-Bienestar, combined with five failed attempts to implement consolidated purchasing systems during the previous administration, has left a significant backlog in payments. This issue primarily affects those without social security, who must bear the cost of IMSS-Bienestar, currently managed by Alejandro Svarch.
Further complicating matters, the cancellation of a consolidated purchase for 2025-2026 by Anticorruption and Good Governance Secretary Raquel Buenrostro, though motivated by transparency, has left the sector in legal limbo. Providers have continued supplying medical goods based on assurances from hospital directors and authorities, but many are operating on the brink.
Impact on Healthcare Sector
New bidding conditions impose strict payment terms, virtually eliminating basic guarantees for suppliers. Longer payment periods, excessive bureaucracy, and uncertainty about reimbursement have created a perception of punishment towards the industry, exacerbating financial risks. The National Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (Canifarma) and associations like Amelaf and AMIIF have warned that this situation discourages participation in future biddings, reducing competition and potentially worsening shortages.
Current Administration’s Efforts
Under Sheinbaum’s administration, there has been progress: 4,000 million pesos allocated to reduce debt and a digital platform implemented for transparent purchases. However, these measures are insufficient if the root causes—lack of coordination, inadequate planning, and fiscal constraints—are not addressed. This debt issue extends beyond healthcare; Pemex’s 20,000 million dollar debt to its suppliers highlights a broader challenge.
Recommendations
To resolve this crisis, President Sheinbaum must collaborate closely with her financial and budgetary team, led by Secretary Edgar Amador. It is inconceivable that, following a pandemic and amidst a health crisis, the Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) would cut the health secretary’s budget by 34%. This lack of sensitivity, persisting for years, disregards the critical condition of the healthcare sector affecting millions of Mexicans.
To ensure Plan Mexico is more than just rhetoric, the government must prioritize and establish fair conditions for suppliers. Only then can trust be rebuilt, and the healthcare system’s collapse due to broken promises be averted.
Crisis at INCan: Oncologists denounce ineffective management and labor harassment
For nearly two years, the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan) has faced internal turmoil, exacerbating difficulties in patient care amidst years of suffering from shortages. Accusations against the general director for ineffective management and abuse of authority persist.
Amidst the public dispute between INCan head Dr. Oscar Arrieta and candidate Dr. Alfonso Dueñas, another director has spoken out about the unprecedented crisis at INCan, particularly in gynecological cancer care. Dr. Jaime Alberto Coronel Martines claims critical shortages of essential medications like paclitaxel, doxorubicin liposomal, and gemcitabine, along with the absence of high-cost drugs.
Treatments, intended to be administered every 21 days, are delayed up to six weeks. For cervical cancer patients, radiation therapy wait times can stretch for months, leaving them in pain and experiencing hemorrhages. Imaging studies, crucial for assessing treatment responses, face delays due to malfunctioning equipment.
Dr. Coronel accuses Arrieta of modifying processes without evaluation, doubling service times, and leading a “witch hunt” involving arbitrary dismissals, including his own. Despite operational staff’s efforts, the crisis reflects a “management of appearances” worsening the healthcare system’s situation, according to Coronel.
Advances in Surgical Technology for Spinal Operations
Recent discussions among specialists, organized by AO Spine, the Mexican Association of Spinal Surgeons, and ABC Medical Center, highlighted advancements in spinal surgery technology.
In Mexico, only the IMSS records over 300,000 annual consultations for lower back pain. Implementing new Imagenology technologies enhances patient safety and healthcare system efficiency.
3D intraoperative imaging improves spinal surgery precision, reducing the need for corrections by up to 40%, which might go unnoticed with 2D technology.
