Despite Challenges, Mexico Expands Medicine Supply

Mexico has improved the distribution of medicines and medical supplies across its public health system, but authorities report that gaps remain. Programs such as IMSS-Bienestar and the new Rutas de la Salud logistics network aim to increase access nationwide, while rising medical costs continue to pressure patients and institutions.

 “We are much better than a few months ago, but the 3% that remains missing is due to suppliers not meeting their commitments,” says Eduardo Clark, Deputy Minister of Integration and Development at the Ministry of Health. Clark reports that the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) reached a 97% supply rate, with the Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers (ISSSTE) recording similar levels. IMSS-Bienestar achieved 92% overall coverage, including 96% for oncology medicines. 

The improvements follow a period of shortages and unrest among health workers, who staged protests in early 2025 over limited access to essential medicines and surgical materials. Organizations monitoring medical supply, such as Cero Desabasto, report persistent gaps in antibiotics, anesthetics, and other critical drugs. Rising healthcare costs have compounded the issue. Prices for private medical consultations increased 6.1% in April 2025, while medication costs for conditions such as diabetes and inflammation rose above 6% year over year. Experts warn that continued inflation could prompt patients to delay treatments or seek less effective alternatives.

In response, the government has invested in both infrastructure and logistics. Since October 2024, 13 hospitals and eight outpatient clinics have opened, with additional facilities expected in 2025. The IMSS-Bienestar program introduced a standardized kit of 147 essential medicines distributed across 23 states. The first phase in August delivered over 28 million units to 8,061 health centers and 578 hospitals, followed by a second phase in late September targeting 8,342 centers with 9,632 pre-assembled kits. The Rutas de la Salud project now coordinates over 1,000 logistical routes and 190 trucks to ensure consistent delivery to urban and remote clinics.

Officials also highlight transparency. Digital platforms launched by the Ministry of Health allow public tracking of medicine purchases and deliveries by product, supplier, and destination. Since March, about 61% of a government order covering 1.8 months of national demand — 381 million units of medications, reagents, tests, and medical devices — has been delivered, alleviating some shortages.

Despite these efforts, authorities stress that full coverage requires compliance from both domestic and international suppliers. Alejandro Svarch, Director, IMSS-Bienestar, says that the government continues to hire staff and expand services to maintain operational readiness, stating, “The greatest equity we can aspire to is that for the same illness, all people receive the same treatment, and that treatment is the best,” says Svarch.