Pharma Industry, Government Clash Over Medicine Supply Delays

Mexico’s pharmaceutical industry has rejected allegations by President Claudia Sheinbaum that recent delays in medicine and supply deliveries by 32 companies were driven by malicious intent. Industry representatives argue the real causes lie in historic government debts and logistical bottlenecks at state-run warehouses.

Industry Pushback: Debt and Bottlenecks

Patrick Devlyn, President, Health Commission of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE), says that pharmaceutical firms have largely complied with deliveries despite outstanding debts estimated at MX$40 billion (US$2.17 billion).

“In a census validated by CANIFARMA, with over 50 laboratories, we have confirmed debts exceeding MX$20 billion. When including other laboratories, the figure climbs above MX$40 billion,” says Devlyn, reports media.

Devlyn warns that payment practices deviate from tender agreements, with firms waiting up to 18 months for payment instead of the six months stipulated. “This creates operating challenges for laboratories, making it harder for the government to secure 100% supply for IMSS, IMSS-Bienestar, and ISSSTE,” says Devlyn.

Pharmaceutical companies also point to operational challenges at Laboratorios de Biológicos y Reactivos de México (Birmex), whose warehouses are reportedly saturated. “Medicines often arrive without signed contracts, based on goodwill, but once delivered, warehouses are full and shipments are sent back. This is a structural issue that must be resolved,” says Devlyn.

He urges both the government and industry to jointly address financial and logistical bottlenecks, warning that timely access to medicines for patients and hospitals nationwide depends on it.

Sheinbaum on Paying CANIFARMA Debts

At this morning's press conference, Sheinbaum confirmed that the government will settle MX$14 million in outstanding debts to members of the National Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (CANIFARMA), including some pending from 2024. She stressed that while payments will be made, companies that win public tenders must still fulfill delivery commitments on time.

The president acknowledged that many of Mexico’s medicines are imported, with India supplying around 80% of global active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and China acting as another key source. As part of the Plan México strategy, future tenders will prioritize companies with manufacturing facilities in Mexico, even if they produce different types of medical supplies, in a bid to strengthen domestic production. All imports, she added, require permits from COFEPRIS to ensure compliance with national health standards.

Progress and Persistent Gaps

Despite these tensions, authorities report improvements in the national supply of medicines. Eduardo Clark, Deputy Minister of Integration and Development, Ministry of Health, says that the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) has reached a 97% supply rate, with ISSSTE reporting similar figures. IMSS-Bienestar stands at 92%, including 96% coverage for oncology drugs, MBN reports.

Still, watchdog groups like Cero Desabasto highlight ongoing shortages in antibiotics, anesthetics, and critical drugs. Rising healthcare costs further complicate access: private consultations rose 6.1% in April 2025, while medication costs for chronic conditions such as diabetes increased over 6% year-on-year.

The government has responded with investments in infrastructure and logistics. Since October 2024, 13 hospitals and eight clinics have opened, and IMSS-Bienestar has rolled out standardized kits of 147 essential medicines across 23 states. The Rutas de la Salud logistics program now operates over 1,000 distribution routes supported by 190 trucks to reach both urban and remote areas.

Digital platforms have also been introduced for public tracking of medicine purchases and deliveries. As of March, 61% of a government order covering 1.8 months of national demand, 381 million units of medications, tests, and devices, had been delivered.

Officials maintain that sustained improvement requires compliance from both domestic and international suppliers. “The greatest equity we can aspire to is that for the same illness, all people receive the same treatment, and that treatment is the best,” says Alejandro Svarch, Director, IMSS-Bienestar.