Building a Value-Based Healthcare Model for Mexico

(In conversation with David Contreras-Loya, researcher at the Institute for Obesity Research and the School of Government and Public Transformation, Tecnológico de Monterrey.)

In October 2024, the SmartDiabetes consortium, led by SocialDiabetes, won the EIT Health call to design and implement a value-based diabetes care model across Europe. The project, which brings together institutions such as Karolinska Institute, SERMAS, and Air Liquide Healthcare, seeks to demonstrate that the combination of digital technology, real-world clinical data, and cross-sector collaboration can improve health outcomes while making public health systems more efficient.

A year later, in September 2025, Tecnológico de Monterrey and SocialDiabetes established a strategic alliance to bring this experience to Mexico through the TecDiabetes project. The initiative aims to develop and validate a care model centered on clinical outcomes and economic efficiency, adapted to the local context. More than a technology transfer, it is a collaboration that unites science, innovation, and public policy to build a more sustainable and equitable health system in the region.

I can think of no better way to share this extraordinary journey than by reflecting on the many insightful conversations I’ve had over the past year with David Contreras-Loya, who brings a unique perspective on how science, technology, and public policy can align to transform health. Together, we discuss the strategic significance of this alliance, the role of evidence in system transformation, and Mexico’s opportunity to lead a paradigm shift toward value-based healthcare.

María Jesús: David, when we first started talking about bringing the model we developed in Europe with SmartDiabetes to Mexico, the immediate question was: why now, and why here?

David: Because Mexico lives a paradox. On the one hand, it has one of the highest diabetes prevalence rates in the world; on the other, it has enormous scientific, institutional, and human capacity to do things differently. What was missing was a framework to integrate technology, evidence, and public policy. In that sense, SocialDiabetes provides exactly what was needed: a proven, certified, and validated platform in real healthcare settings.

María Jesús: Exactly. That was the starting point for TecDiabetes: to show that value-based care is not just a theoretical ideal, but a practical reality. Measuring clinical and economic outcomes in real time can fundamentally change how systems allocate resources and improve the quality of life for people with diabetes.

David: And to do it with scientific rigor. At Tec, we are convinced that alliances are the only way to drive systemic change. TecDiabetes brings together three worlds that often operate separately — academia, industry, and the public sector. Our mission is to foster convergence so that innovation can have real and sustainable impact.

María Jesús: That’s essential. Too often, digitalization is confused with transformation — and they’re not the same. Technology alone solves nothing. What truly transforms is the ability to learn from data, to understand what works, for whom, and why. That’s where real-world data becomes indispensable.

David: Moreover, the value-based care approach changes the incentives. Instead of paying for volume, we pay for outcomes. That aligns interests and increases efficiency at different levels of the system. It’s a quiet revolution — one that could make a real difference in Mexico, especially if we can generate solid local evidence.

María Jesús: And that’s the goal of this alliance. From SocialDiabetes, we bring technology, experience, and a tested methodology. From Tec, you bring academic rigor, research capacity, and an institutional vision that amplifies the impact.

Together, we can build a model that not only works but is scalable and sustainable. To do so, we count on the invaluable support of Benedev Consulting and Patrick Devlyn, who will help us ensure scalability and measurable impact. Their participation will guarantee tangible returns for Mexico’s healthcare ecosystem across public and private providers, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and care networks.

David: That’s the key: scalability. TecDiabetes is not about a successful pilot, it’s about setting a standard for diabetes and other metabolic diseases. We aim to create a model that can be replicated across the ecosystem, reaching the entire population through collaboration among all health stakeholders.

Mexico has everything it takes to lead this transition toward value-based healthcare. What’s needed now is to prove it with data, results, and leadership. That’s exactly what this project sets out to do.

María Jesús: Thank you, David, for your commitment and for these months of joint work toward a new way of thinking about health, one centered on people, evidence, and collaboration.

We share the conviction that transforming the health system is not only a matter of investment, but of shared vision. TecDiabetes is, at its core, an invitation to build together a healthier and fairer future.