The Government of Mexico announced that it will invest 130 billion pesos annually (about 6.461 billion dollars) in the purchase of medications, a process that will be carried out with transparency, without corruption, and with the participation of all institutions. President Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted the importance of this purchase for the access to health for Mexicans and the need for it to be done transparently, inviting all health providers to participate.
According to the Mexican leader, with this new method of purchasing medications in a consolidated manner, better prices are expected compared to the previous administration. Eduardo Clark, Deputy Health Secretary, stated that the goal of this acquisition is to guarantee the availability of medications for all citizens receiving care in the public sector, under the best price conditions for the State.
The new contracting model is based on the use of digital systems throughout the process, which seeks to ensure maximum transparency and participation at both national and international levels to foster competition and guarantee quality resources at the best price. It has been announced that a call for public bidding and contract allocation will begin between November and December, concluding the process on March 1, 2025, with the delivery of medications.
The head of the Ministry of Health, David Kershenobich, emphasized the ethical, economic, and social importance of the purchase of medications, as well as the need to efficiently manage costs to maintain the health system. The agency will oversee the entire process, while health institutions will define their needs and delivery points, later validated by the authorities.
The crisis due to the shortage of medications in the health sector in Mexico worsened in 2019 due to budget cuts and changes in medication purchases imposed by the previous Government. With the inauguration of the "Wellness Megapharmacy" at the end of 2023, the current Government sought to address this issue and ensure the availability of medications, which led to protests from patients with serious illnesses.
