Mexico Launches Major Reforms to Tackle Chronic Diseases

Mexico is launching major healthcare reforms to combat chronic diseases. Key initiatives include a nationwide prevention campaign, new hemodynamic units in hospitals, and the largest-ever medicine purchase to address shortages. These efforts aim to improve access, reduce costs, and enhance treatment outcomes, benefiting millions of Mexicans and easing the burden of chronic conditions.

President Claudia Sheinbaum introduced the Primary Care Campaign in Metabolic Health Research, which will begin on Jan. 1, 2025. The campaign will track 500,000 high-risk individuals over six years, aiming to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease by 5% to 10%. The campaign will focus on promoting lifestyle changes, addressing nutrition, exercise, and behavioral factors that contribute to these diseases.

According to Statista, as of 2022, 14.1 million adults in Mexico, or 17% of the adult population, were living with diabetes. Hypertension also affects one in four Mexicans, with nearly half unaware of their condition, contributing to nearly 50,000 deaths annually, as reported by MBN. Similarly, CKD remains a major health concern, with the country having the sixth-highest CKD mortality rate globally. These chronic diseases are exacerbated by common risk factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, high cholesterol, and genetics.

In addition to its chronic disease efforts, the government has committed to improving cardiac care. The installation of 31 hemodynamic units across 25 hospitals in 21 states, with an investment of over US$37.84 million, is a crucial part of this effort. Hemodynamic units are specialized devices that monitor blood flow and pressure, enabling timely diagnoses and treatments for heart failure, shock, and severe hypertension. These units provide real-time data on blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels, which are essential for interventions like catheterizations and pacemaker placements, critical treatments for heart attack patients.

Martí Batres, Director, ISSSTE, emphasized the importance of these units in offering life-saving interventions. "These will enable healthcare providers to respond more swiftly and accurately to heart-related conditions, ultimately saving lives and improving patient outcomes."

To address the ongoing issue of medicine shortages, Deputy Minister Eduardo García announced the largest-ever government purchase of medicines for 2025-2026. The purchase will cover 4,429 types of medicines and medical supplies, totaling nearly 4.9 billion units. This initiative aims to streamline procurement, reduce costs, and improve access to essential healthcare services.

The purchase is set to begin in March 2025 and will ensure that distribution is transparent and timely. A hybrid delivery model, along with set schedules and strict eligibility criteria, will help eliminate the supply chain disruptions that have plagued the country in the past, as previously reported by MBN.

Additionally, to address the issue comprehensively, Zoé Robledo, Director, IMSS, introduced the "Complete Prescription" platform. This online system allows patients to report unfilled prescriptions, helping to resolve shortages before the medicine procurement process begins. By improving transparency and tracking, this platform will help ensure that patients receive the medications they need, when they need them.