Mexicans Missing Out on Medical Devices They Manufacture

Q: What key initiatives or projects is AMID undertaking to promote innovation in Mexico’s medical devices industry?

A: For the past three years, we have focused on COVID-19. During that period, we closely followed the needs of healthcare systems worldwide and supported measures that ensured every patient had access to supplies to the best of our ability. The group anticipated that this year would mark the end of the pandemic, so we shifted our agenda to areas that are closer to our original mission and values. 

We are focusing on positioning medical devices in the market because, despite Mexico being one of the primary producers of medical devices, consumption in the country remains low. We rank 42nd among OECD countries. This means that many patients receive treatment without access to modern medical devices. To address this problem, we form synergies with other important actors in the healthcare chain, such as associations and hospitals. 

We are also working on four cross-cutting themes within the organization. The first is the formal employment sector. The second is ethical business and competitiveness, which adds value to the market by allowing patients to receive what they need. The third is competitiveness, focusing on the added value we can provide to workers who choose to work in this sector. Finally, the fourth theme is regulatory standards, which involve incorporating global regulations into Mexican norms.

Q: How does AMID stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in the global medical devices industry and ensure that its members remain competitive?

A: It is the other way around. Our members contribute their insights and indicate the trends that are occurring worldwide. We gather information about our members’ actions and talk to the necessary stakeholders to promote innovation. This year, we want to invite medical and biotechnology students to forums related to ethics and compliance in the medical devices industry. These students are the professionals of the future, so we need to establish foundations with them as soon as possible. Secondly, we aim to establish collaborative agreements with universities or foundations that are associated with universities to start discussing technology development.

Q: What effect has nearshoring had on this sector?

A: The medical device industry has always been strong regarding nearshoring. We have a well-established Mexican manufacturing sector and produce many devices for export. The government wants to encourage the establishment of production plants in Mexico's northern region, while also investing in the southeast. The country's highly developed northern region offers many job opportunities and universities. The southeast is different. The sector must discuss with the government whether these decisions can be implemented, especially regarding logistics. It is not only about tax exemptions but also about ensuring the availability of talent, universities, favorable terrain conditions and technology.

 Q: How does AMID contribute to the development and nurturing of Mexican talent within the field of innovative medical devices?

A: AMID forms alliances with clusters to understand their specific needs and assist them. We aim to establish a collaboration agreement with INDEX to generate the metrics that allow us to understand manufacturing challenges. This diagnosis will likely help us sign agreements with universities to build the necessary resources to move forward. The diagnosis will facilitate decision-making for many.

Q: What are the primary priorities for AMID in advancing the interests and growth of the innovative medical devices industry in Mexico? 

A: Many activities are taking place as we move past COVID-19. Our priorities are to maintain a dialogue on ethical practices and competitiveness. We need to discuss integrity with healthcare stakeholders in Mexico and Latin America. These conversations with both public and private entities can help patients. The sector-specific diagnosis we plan to conduct will provide us with valuable insights about ourselves, enabling us to take appropriate actions. However, regulatory practices will always remain the top item on our agenda.

The Mexican Association for Innovative Industries of Medical Devices (AMID) represents a collective of 39 companies that pioneer advancements in healthcare and medical technology. Its members specialize in developing medical devices and diagnostic systems, catering to 75 medical specialties.