Introduction to Héctor Valle’s Proposal
After nearly three decades of unsuccessful efforts to implement a unified clinical record system in Mexico, Héctor Valle, CEO of Funsalud, sparked an unexpected discussion during the French Healthcare Day organized by the French embassy. Valle proposed a radical rethinking of the clinical record concept by asking, “What if we bypass the clinical record?” This digital system aims to centralize a patient’s health information in one database accessible across various healthcare institutions.
The Challenges of Implementing a Unified Clinical Record
Valle highlighted that the unified clinical record has only been successfully implemented in the United States. In Mexico, several barriers have hindered its adoption: technical difficulties, lack of consensus on content, interoperability issues between systems, and reluctance to accept non-uniform data reflecting socioeconomic and geographical diversity. These challenges, exacerbated by limited infrastructure and outdated regulatory frameworks, have perpetuated stagnation in the Mexican healthcare system.
Valle’s Innovative Proposal: Individual Health Data Lakes
Valle’s vision suggests moving away from the traditional structured clinical record concept and embracing “individual health data lakes.” This approach prioritizes flexible repositories that integrate information from various sources without enforcing uniformity, focusing on accessibility and privacy. This idea is likely inspired by global technological advancements and could potentially revolutionize Mexico’s complex healthcare system.
President Sheinbaum Addresses Healthcare Supply Issues
On a separate note, President Claudia Sheinbaum has shown signs of acknowledging and addressing the ongoing healthcare supply crisis. Previously, she had generalized and blamed the pharmaceutical industry for the shortages in public hospitals. However, she now recognizes that the real issue lies in her team’s inadequate planning and organization of procurement, which has accumulated a multimillion-peso debt (approximately 140 million pesos from Insabi, inherited by IMSS-Bienestar) with medical supply providers.
Sheinbaum’s Plan to Resolve Debt and Foster Industry Growth
Sheinbaum has established working tables to review each case and committed to settling the debt within two months. Meanwhile, Guillermo Funes, president of Canifarma, described this development as unprecedented during a panel at the French Healthcare Day. The decreto issued in June aims to promote investments and self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical production and research, following the México Plan. Guidelines for this decree are expected to be released soon.
Industry Representatives Hope for Cofepris Budget Increase
Healthcare industry representatives have expressed optimism publicly, though privately they convey frustration due to the slow pace of progress. For instance, the proposed budget cut for Cofepris in 2026 by the executive has prompted industrials to mobilize and advocate for legislative support to prevent the cuts. To genuinely foster the healthcare industry, improve procurement efficiency, and acknowledge the pharmaceutical industry’s role in driving development and innovation in Mexico, it would be logical to strongly support Cofepris rather than financially strangle it.
3rd Congress on Cardiogenic Shock: A Multidisciplinary Approach
The 3rd Congress on Cardiogenic Shock will take place in Cancún, Quintana Roo, on October 2-3. As the only Latin American event addressing this condition from a multidisciplinary perspective, it aims to assist specialists in understanding the disease better and improving patient survival rates, which currently stand at only 50%. Organized by TecSalud through the Institute of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, it is led by cardiologists Guillermo Torre (TecSalud rector) and Vicente Jiménez (Choque Cardiogénico Team Leader). The congress seeks public-private collaboration and partnerships with the Mexican Cardiology Council and international institutions like the Houston Shock Symposium, the Mexico Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, and the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO). This year’s focus will be on clinical scenarios leading to cardiogenic shock and future treatment and device usage perspectives.
PAN Proposes Tax Deductibility for Medications
Éctor Jaime Ramírez Barba, a PAN representative, argues that making only medications included in hospital bills tax-deductible is an unequal treatment. This concern is particularly relevant since the benefit of deducting medication purchases does not include those with limited resources who buy directly from pharmacies, especially those denied treatment in the public sector due to shortages. Not everyone requires or has access to hospital-based treatment for obtaining medications, creating an unequal situation. Therefore, his proposal for the 2026 economic package is to allow the deduction of not only hospital-acquired medications but also other family healthcare expenses in the Income Tax Regulation.
