Mexico's Pharmacy Clinics Evolve Primary Care and Drive Growth

In Mexico's private pharmacy network sector, consulting rooms adjacent to pharmacies will grow 11% in 2025. Pharmacy-attached clinics already provide nearly 10 million consultations per month in the country, and now they are preparing to take another step: incorporating diagnostic services and short-stay surgeries, thus expanding their role in Mexico's primary care network. These clinics are becoming the first point of medical contact for millions of people in Mexico. Currently, there are approximately 20,000 clinics within a network of 50,000 private pharmacies, primarily concentrated in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

The network's  success lies in its accessibility, immediacy, and low cost. While patients visiting public services can wait hours or even weeks for an appointment, they can be seen immediately by a licensed doctor in these private clinics, with a consultation costing around 50 pesos (US$2.74).

The growth of services in pharmacy clinics will not stop there. The model is evolving toward a comprehensive offering of health services, which will include accessible diagnostic tests and short-stay outpatient surgeries. 

We are seeing a new trend: private clinics offering minor surgeries at affordable prices. This will allow many patients to avoid waiting months for an operation in the public system.

President Claudia Sheinbaum recently announced the creation of 5,000 clinics with pharmacies, in partnership with Welfare Banks, focusing on rural areas and marginalized communities. This measure will strengthen primary care and reduce gaps in access to basic health services, but it is still insufficient, especially when compared to the network of over 50,000 private pharmacies, including both corporate and traditional outlets.

For us at Anafarmex A.C. and Pascual Farmacias Consulting, the clinics attached to pharmacies should no longer be seen as a "necessary evil," but as allies of the national health system, capable of generating useful clinical data for prevention campaigns and public policies.

These clinics are allies of any health system. If we could take advantage of the information they generate, we could have more accurate indicators and better prevention strategies; for example, against diabetes or hypertension.

Our surveys show that between 80% and 90% of users express satisfaction with waiting times, the treatment received, and the cost.

According to ANAPS (National Association of Health Providers) President Carlos Alejandro Salazar Gaytán, the medical devices market performance includes the following:

1. Industry value: US$254 billion

The global share of the medical device industry was valued at approximately US$254 billion in 2024, of which 8.66% corresponds to Mexican manufacturing, which is approximately US$22 billion.

2. 64% of exports go to the United States

The majority of Mexican medical device exports are destined for the United States (64%)

3. FDI: US$678 million

In 2024, foreign direct investment in this major industry reached US$678 million.

4. 9,492 companies

According to the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) competitiveness analysis, 9,492 companies dedicated to medical devices currently operate in Mexico.

5. 3.6% of total exports

Medical devices account for 3.6% of Mexico's total exports.

6. More than 10,000 types of medical devices

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, there are more than 10,000 types of medical devices grouped into more than 2,000 categories.

7. 9.1% CAGR

Over the last 10 years, the medical devices industry in Mexico has experienced accelerated growth, even more dynamic than in other countries, with a CAGR of just over 9% in exports.

The pharmaceutical industry is also showing great economic dynamism, according to CANIFARMA (National Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry).

From 2019 to 2022, sales value increased by 29.8%, rising from MX$413 billion to MX$536 billion, contributing to employment, tax revenue, and investment in the country.

The greatest growth occurred from 2019 to 2020 (11.9%), with both the public and private sectors contributing to the increase, showing growth of 30.4% and 27.7%, respectively. It is an that will "undoubtedly reach MX$600 billion in the coming years," according to CANIFARMA.

Bayer: A Pharma Growth Example

With 100 years of existence in Mexico, Bayer is an example of companies in the sector posting double-digit growth. In recent years, Bayer has focused on significant launches that truly make a difference in areas where there are unmet medical needs, where Mexico and other countries face enormous access challenges, spending less and improving the health of their populations. We will continue to discuss the German leader in the pharmaceutical industry in a later article.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in 2026.