In a significant milestone for Mexico’s healthcare system, authorities announced that 96% of all required medications for 2025-2026 have been secured for public hospitals and clinics. The breakthrough was revealed on July 30 by the Health Ministry, indicating that longstanding issues of drug shortages in institutions like IMSS (Mexican Social Security Institute) and ISSSTE (State Workers’ Social Security Institute) are being effectively addressed. Out of 4.073 billion medicine doses and items needed for the period, 96% are already acquired and in distribution pipelines.
This marks a dramatic improvement from just a couple of years ago, when patients frequently reported empty pharmacy shelves and had to buy medications out-of-pocket. Now, officials say, the public system’s pharmacies are stocked at levels “notablemente mejorados” (notably improved). In June and July alone, IMSS received 200 million pieces of medicine, a four-fold jump from the 59 million pieces in May. ISSSTE’s supply rose even more sharply – it obtained 30 million pieces in July, a 500% increase over the 5 million in May. These rapid gains are attributed to an emergency federal strategy of centralized bulk purchasing and international sourcing that the Health Ministry implemented to end the shortages.
Coordinated Effort and Ongoing Procurement
Health Secretary Xóchitl Galvéz explained that achieving the 96% supply level required unprecedented coordination among federal health entities. IMSS, ISSSTE, and the newer IMSS-Bienestar (which serves uninsured populations) pooled their procurement under one plan. By combining orders, Mexico negotiated better prices and ensured drug manufacturers ramped up production for the country’s needs. Additionally, millions of doses were purchased through U.N. agencies and foreign suppliers to fill gaps, especially for specialized or high-demand drugs.
As of July 30, the remaining 4% of needed medicines are in the pipeline: 60.6 million additional pieces are currently in purchase process and another 17.8 million are set for a bidding adjudication on August 16. Furthermore, contracts for 105 million more pieces are about to be formalized. Those forthcoming supplies will push availability over the 100% mark, building a buffer stock. The goal is to maintain at least 95% availability at all times, to quickly meet hospital demands and avoid future shortages.
Importantly, the improvement is not just in raw numbers but in variety of medicines. Patients are finding even specialized treatments – from cancer drugs to cardiac medications – on hand at public facilities. “We are seeing full shelves of previously scarce meds, like pediatric oncology drugs, antiretrovirals, and insulin,” noted a representative of patient advocacy group Nosotrxs. The days when families had to scramble to private pharmacies for chemotherapy drugs may be ending.
Impact on Patients and Health Outcomes
The Health Ministry emphasized that reliable medicine supply is a cornerstone of the administration’s push for a universal healthcare system. When patients can obtain prescribed drugs immediately and for free, treatment adherence improves and health outcomes follow. For example, diabetic and hypertensive patients who consistently take their medications have fewer complications, easing the burden on hospitals.
Early evidence of impact is encouraging. IMSS clinics report higher attendance now that patients trust they’ll get their full course of meds. “Before, some patients wouldn’t bother coming for check-ups because they knew we had nothing to give them,” an IMSS doctor in Mexico City admitted. “Now they come, they get their medicine, and their conditions are better controlled.” ISSSTE similarly noted improved follow-up in chronic disease programs.
The government also credits this success to improved logistics and transparency. A new tracking system monitors inventory at facilities nationwide, flagging low-stock situations before they become crises. The armed forces have even assisted in distributing medications to remote areas, using planes and trucks to reach every region. The President lauded healthcare workers and administrators for the feat, stating, “El abasto de medicamentos está garantizado” – the supply of medicines is guaranteed.
To ensure this progress is felt by citizens, the ministry set up a hotline and app for reporting any drug shortages. Thus far, reports of missing medications have plummeted compared to last year. The Health Secretary reiterated that funding for medicine procurement will remain a top priority in the federal budget going forward, to cement these gains.
After years of distressing stories about patients going without treatment, Mexico’s public health system appears to have turned a corner. If the 96% supply level can be maintained and improved, it will stand as one of the administration’s signature achievements – restoring faith that “salud para el bienestar” (health for well-being) is more than just a slogan, but a reality stocked on every clinic shelf.
