COFEPRIS, INSP to Strengthen Research and Training in Healthcare

Mexico’s Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) and the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) signed a collaboration agreement to enhance research, training, and cooperation in public health and sanitary risk protection. The agreement was formalized during the Second National Meeting of the Federal Sanitary System and the National Quality Forum in Mexico City.

Armida Zúñiga, Head, COFEPRIS, says the agreement aims to develop human resources in sanitary risk protection through specialized courses, professional training, and advisory services. Eduardo Lazcano, Director, INSP, says that the institute will support the collaboration through its research and educational programs, including the National School of Public Health and its newly redesigned graduate model.

The partnership comes amid complex public health challenges in Mexico. Recent research by INSP highlights environmental risks, such as cognitive impairments in children exposed to metals in mining regions. Maternal health studies show persistent disparities in care, particularly affecting indigenous women. Meanwhile, OECD data reveal gaps in life expectancy, preventable mortality, and healthcare coverage, underscoring the need for strengthened preventive strategies, regulatory oversight, and capacity building. Chronic non-communicable diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions, continue to drive morbidity and mortality, emphasizing the relevance of evidence-based interventions.

The COFEPRIS-INSP collaboration will leverage regulatory and research expertise to align Mexican health standards with international benchmarks. COFEPRIS has updated regulations covering health products, services, and chemicals, and its federal sanitary system conducts extensive inspections and analyses. INSP’s initiatives, including the Global Hub for Health and Food Policy Innovation and its participation in the Ibero-American Network of Health Promoting Universities, reflect its leadership in translating research into policy, capacity building, and health promotion.

The agreement also integrates INSP’s renewed graduate model, which emphasizes practical, multidisciplinary learning, ethics, and social commitment. The school has reorganized into 50 research and teaching groups that link faculty, research, and postgraduate education, ensuring that scientific inquiry and professional training are mutually reinforcing. This approach aims to produce public health leaders capable of responding to local, national, and global health challenges.

INSP’s contributions extend to nutrition and chronic disease prevention, including technical support for Mexico’s Healthy and Sustainable Dietary Guidelines. Its work has earned recognition from the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Non-Communicable Diseases for obesity prevention, reinforcing the institute’s role in evidence generation, professional training, and policy guidance. Programs such as structured maternal sepsis protocols, global research hubs, and environmental health studies demonstrate how INSP translates data into actionable public health strategies.

The COFEPRIS-INSP agreement is expected to strengthen professional training, standardize preventive measures, and enhance Mexico’s capacity to respond to current and emerging health risks. By integrating scientific research, regulatory oversight, and education, the collaboration seeks to improve population health outcomes, reduce inequities, and establish Mexico as a model for evidence-based public health practices in Latin America and beyond.