Mexico Takes Steps Forward in Gender Equality

This week, Mexico got one step closer to gender equality in healthcare by eliminating taxes on menstrual products. On the other hand, the lack of payment and the excess working hours caregivers have to deal with, which are mostly women, evidences the gender gap.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health recognized recent drug shortages and made his opposition to vaccinate children against COVID-19.

Here is the week in health!

Periods Products are Now Tax-Free

The Chamber of Deputies established that from 2022 menstrual products will be tax-free, recognizing that these products are essential items and not luxury goods. The move means the federal government would stop collecting MX$880 million (US$44 million) from these products, according to the Center for Public Finance Studies (CEFP) of the Chamber of Deputies. Read more about the subject here.

Violence is a Barrier to Health

Sept. 25 was the national day for the elimination of violence against women. Learn how violence against women and girls can stop them from accessing health services and lead to long-term damage to their physical and mental wellbeing in this article.

Minister of Health Recognizes Medicine Shortages

On Sept. 26, during his appearance before the Chamber of Deputies, Minister of Health Jorge Alcocer Varela recognized that there have been shortages of oncological treatments in Mexico. Alcocer also said the need to vaccinate children has yet not been proven: “I am not vaccinating my grandchildren.” Read more about his comments in this article.

Patient Associations Speak Up

The Network for Comprehensive Attention to Chronic Diseases, made up by 16 civil society organizations, exhorted the Chamber of Deputies to prioritize chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) to reduce their prevalence and incidence in Mexico. Read the network’s petitions in this article.

Caregivers Labor Exploitation

In 2020, the number of female caregivers who suffer from poverty or extreme poverty went from 28.1 million to 32.6 million, revealed data from CONEVAL. Those who are in charge of household chores and care of children, people with disabilities or the elderly no longer have the resources to buy the food basket or pay their health, clothing, housing or education.

ENARM Inconsistencies

Mexico’s doctors aspiring to study a medical specialty reported serious inconsistencies on the National Exam for Aspiring Medical Residents (ENARM), which also changed several procedures potentially in accordance to its priorities. Read the article here.

Ending Infant Mortality

Sanofi CHC celebrated its third year fighting infant mortality caused by diarrhea by reaffirming its commitment through an alliance with NGO Save the Children (SCMx), which began in August 2019 and has benefited over 83,000 people in Mexico. Sanofi CHC and SCMx are working together to positively impact over 6,000 families in vulnerable communities of Mexico City and State of Mexico through a series on programs described in this article.

Drug Cartels’ Presence During Crisis

The University of San Diego’s “Organized Crime and Violence in Mexico: 2021 Special Report” found that drug cartels in Mexico strengthened their presence in some regions of the country through the delivery of humanitarian aid during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more in this article.

Booster Shots can be Combined

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the application of booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines from a different laboratory than the original doses. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) backed the measure, so some US Citizens can now get their booster doses from Moderna, Johnson & Johnson or Pfizer, according to The New York Times.