Mexico to Make Infant Formula Free Under New Health Law

Mexico’s lower chamber is reviewing a proposal to amend the General Health Law to require the state to provide free infant formula during a child’s first six months of life, as part of a broader strategy to protect early childhood health and development.

The initiative, introduced by PRI Lawmaker Ana Isabel González, seeks to add a new provision to Article 61 that would establish a federally coordinated program to supply infant formula at no cost. The proposal has been referred to the Health Commission for analysis.

Under the draft reform, the program would be administered by the federal government in coordination with state authorities and implemented in accordance with technical, sanitary, and nutritional guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health. The initiative assigns the Ministry of Health and the National System for Integral Family Development (DIF), responsibility for defining quality standards, traceability, distribution mechanisms, and nutritional monitoring.

The proposal places particular emphasis on reaching populations with limited access to adequate nutrition, including communities in rural areas, Indigenous regions, and urban zones facing high levels of marginalization. According to the initiative, reducing disparities in infant nutrition is a central objective, given persistent gaps in access to essential food during the earliest stages of life.

The document frames the policy as a preventive public health measure aimed at addressing conditions linked to undernutrition, food insecurity, and the absence of adequate feeding practices. It argues that insufficient nutrition in the first months of life increases the risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, as well as developmental delays that can have lasting effects.

González says that a significant number of children do not receive the nutrients required for healthy growth, despite evidence that early nutrition is critical not only for survival but for optimal physical and cognitive development. The initiative warns that inadequate nutrition in infancy can have long-term consequences for health, well-being and the ability to reach full potential later in life.

The proposal highlights the first 1,000 days of life, from conception through a child’s second birthday, as the most sensitive period for nutritional interventions. During this stage, the document argues, physical and cognitive development is particularly vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies, underscoring the need for coordinated policies that promote breastfeeding while ensuring access to appropriate and nutritious alternatives when needed.

In addition to its domestic health objectives, the initiative links the proposed reform to Mexico’s international commitments on children’s rights, public health, and nutrition. It cites alignment with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The proposal also calls for shared responsibility among federal and state governments, as well as local health and social assistance systems, to strengthen collaborative approaches to early childhood care. Lawmakers will now assess the scope, feasibility, and potential impact of the reform as part of the legislative review process.

This proposal aligns with the current priorities of the government. Recently, the Ministry of Health introduced the National Medical Care Protocol for the First 1,000 Days of Life (PRONAM) as part of broader efforts to strengthen patient safety and improve child health outcomes in Mexico, reports MBN.

“From the Ministry of Health, we recognize that the first days, months, and years of life largely define the health future of every child. For this reason, we have implemented actions to ensure comprehensive, evidence-based care during the first thousand days of life,” says David Kershenobich, Minister of Health.

The protocol includes timely prenatal care, promotion of breastfeeding, neonatal screening, and early vaccination, and free vitamin and mineral supplementation for pregnant women. According to Kershenobich, these measures are intended to reduce maternal and infant mortality while building a foundation for long-term health.

“Patient safety is not a luxury; it is a right,” says José Moya, Representative in Mexico, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and World Health Organization (WHO).

Institutional collaboration plays a key role in consolidating risk prevention strategies, says Odet Sarabia, Head, National Commission of Medical Arbitration (CONAMED). Patient safety requires shared responsibility across institutions, health professionals, and society, says Kershenobich.