Mexico's Public Health Institute: 39 Years of Scientific Achievements

Created almost four decades ago, the National Public Health Institute (INSP) has become one of the country's most influential institutions in the generation of scientific knowledge, the training of specialized human resources, and the direct impact on evidence-based public policies, with national and international reach. Its trajectory has been marked by scientific contributions that have helped transform the health of the Mexican population, from environmental regulation and tobacco control to epidemiological surveillance and the design of prevention strategies. In an interview, Dr. Eduardo Lazcano Ponce, General Director of INSP, highlighted that the Institute's scientific productivity and social impact have been key to its positioning as a benchmark in public health. Among its contributions, he highlighted the front-of-pack labeling of food and non-alcoholic beverages, implemented in 2019, as well as strategies aimed at reducing the consumption of ultra-processed products, including the proposal for their elimination in the school environment. He also mentioned the reduction of the human papillomavirus vaccination schedule, which in 2024 went from three to one dose, a decision backed by scientific evidence generated by the Institute. One of INSP's flagship projects are the National Health and Nutrition Surveys (Ensanut), epidemiological studies that have periodically made it possible to understand the state of health, nutrition, and the quality of health services in the Mexican population. According to Dr. Lazcano Ponce, the information generated by these surveys has been key to making visible the magnitude of ailments such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic diseases, currently considered among the main public health challenges in the country. Similarly, he highlighted INSP's collaboration in the National Survey on Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use (Encodat) 2025, whose preliminary results have already been released and are undergoing detailed analysis to strengthen decision-making in addiction prevention and care. INSP's work also extends to key regions for national public health, particularly Mexico's southern border. From its headquarters in Tapachula, Chiapas, Institute researchers have decisively contributed to the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. These actions have helped reduce the incidence and impact of these ailments, especially in areas with high social and epidemiological vulnerability. Among the historical contributions, he emphasized the scientific evidence that led to the elimination of lead from gasoline in Mexico City in 1990, as well as the standard for removing lead from glazed ceramic in 1993, measures that had direct effects in reducing the population's exposure to this contaminant. Another significant milestone was the research that supported the approval of the General Law for Tobacco Control, endorsed by the Legislature in February 2008, which gave rise to the creation of 100% smoke-free spaces in the country. The General Director of INSP pointed out that the Institute's contributions have remained relevant on the contemporary health agenda.