Regulatory Progress Opens Door for Digital Health in Mexico

Q: What is Meeting Doctors' core value proposition in the current competitive digital health landscape?

A: Meeting Doctors provides digital Health solutions in a B2B format. We target companies so that they can offer telemedicine services to their clients or their employees. Our mission is to leverage technology to make the Health services more accessible for people.

Q: What specific challenges in the healthcare sector does Meeting Doctors' telemedicine platform address that traditional telemedicine services do not cover?

A: Our competitive position in Mexico is very strong due to four main factors. First, we began operations in 2017. Many players entered the market during the pandemic and developed improvised solutions, whereas we were already fully prepared at that time, having operated in this business since 2017.

We also own our technology. We developed it in-house, making it proprietary, which gives us a high degree of flexibility and allows us to fully comply with regulatory requirements. Additionally, we operate a proprietary network of physicians. In every country where we are present, we maintain our own network of doctors who are vetted and engaged to deliver telemedicine services.

Fourth, our headquarters are located in Barcelona, and European regulation for telemedicine is highly advanced. While Mexico has made some progress in this area recently, it is not yet as developed as in Europe. 

Q: What are the key areas of opportunity or potential in the country that are currently hindering the desired level of growth?

A: Regulation in Mexico has progressed slowly in terms of formally incorporating digital health into the legal framework. In January, a new law was announced establishing a regulatory basis for digital health in the country. This announcement outlines the core principles and fundamentals that the authorities intend to incorporate, which is positive news, as it reflects an effort to promote digital health across both the public and private health systems.

Over the coming months more details are expected, including secondary regulations and implementation guidelines that will clarify how this law will be applied in practice. This is an important development, as it will raise the level of regulatory compliance required of all players providing telemedicine and digital health services in Mexico.

Q: What is impeding Mexico’s ability to keep up with the current pace of change and adaptation?

A: One key challenge is internet infrastructure. Connectivity in Mexico is not as robust as in other regions, such as Asia, the United States or Europe. This is an issue that must be addressed, as the provision of digital health services requires reliable and high-quality internet access.

Beyond that, there are also systemic differences. In several countries, telemedicine serves as the first point of contact for the population. For example, when seeking care through public systems, patients often begin with a teleconsultation that functions as a triage. During this initial interaction, clinicians may issue a prescription, provide guidance on next steps, determine that the case is urgent and direct the patient to a specific facility, or schedule an in-person appointment with a specialist at a later date.

This model is not yet widely implemented in Mexico. However, the new regulatory framework aims to promote telemedicine as a triage tool and as the first point of contact for the population, both within the public health system and for insured patients through private insurers. This shift is necessary, as the healthcare system in Mexico is currently under significant strain.

Q: What steps are needed for Mexico to move toward a centralized digital prescription model, and how would such a system improve patient safety?
A: While digital prescriptions are permitted in Mexico, there is currently no unified system connecting all pharmacies and drugstores. This is a critical gap that still needs to be addressed. In other markets, prescriptions issued by any physician are recorded in a centralized system that is accessible to all pharmacies. When a patient fills a prescription, it is automatically validated and cannot be reused. This process is immediate and fully integrated at the point of sale.

That level of integration does not yet exist in Mexico, and it represents an important area for improvement. This model is already well established in Europe, the United States and Asia, and it is also a reality in several Latin American countries. Chile, for example, is quite advanced in digital prescriptions, while Colombia is making strong progress. Brazil is also highly developed in both digital health and electronic prescribing. 

Q: Given the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence and automation in digital health, how is Meeting Doctors preparing to incorporate these capabilities responsibly and ethically?
A: We invest heavily in making the interaction between patients and physicians as efficient as possible. In every case, however, consultations are delivered by licensed physicians. That is a fundamental principle for us.

There is no denying that AI tools, including large language models, are already being used to support medical consultations, interpret laboratory results and even address mental health concerns. That is a reality of today’s healthcare landscape. Nevertheless, we firmly believe regulation will ensure that a physician with a valid professional license remains responsible for the final medical decision, including diagnosis and prescription.

Our approach is to use AI as a support tool, one that allows physicians to access relevant information more quickly and operate more efficiently, while keeping clinical responsibility firmly in human hands.

Q: What strategic alliances is Meeting Doctors promoting to strengthen its presence in the country?
A: Our business model is built on partnerships. We are a strongly B2B-oriented company, and we believe our clients bring powerful brands and large, established customer bases, while we contribute deep expertise in telemedicine services. These partnerships are designed to deliver high-quality telemedicine at scale and to reach the broadest possible population.

At the same time, we remain highly focused on our core service, telemedicine, while building strategic partnerships with laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, drug providers and networks of in-person physicians. By generating volume for these partners, we are able to negotiate preferential pricing that benefits our clients. As a result, when a patient requires laboratory testing, medication or an in-person consultation, they can access those services at some of the most competitive prices available in the market.

Q: How can Meeting Doctors’ clients measure their return on investment (ROI) from partnering with you?
A: Delivering a clear ROI for our clients is essential, and that return varies by client type. For insurers, the comparison is straightforward: the cost of telemedicine versus the cost of in-person consultations. Telemedicine enables insurers to reduce the number of unnecessary visits to clinics and hospitals, as many health issues can be resolved remotely. Telemedicine consultations are also more cost-effective than traditional in-person care.

For large employers, the value proposition is different. Their priorities include attracting and retaining talent, as well as improving workforce productivity. Telemedicine allows employees to access healthcare without spending hours scheduling appointments, traveling across the city, waiting in clinics or incurring high out-of-pocket costs. Instead, they receive care in a faster, more convenient and more affordable way, wherever they are.

We also work with companies that integrate telemedicine as a value-added component of their products, such as consumer goods or pharmaceutical companies. In these cases, telemedicine enhances product use, improves customer experience and supports better outcomes. These clients focus on metrics such as customer satisfaction, engagement and conversion rates, comparing products offered with and without telemedicine support.

Q: What trends in the market are benefiting the growth of Meeting Doctors?
A: Demand for consultations, particularly in mental health, is growing rapidly. Addressing mental health needs has become a core part of our offering, and we are scaling these services significantly in Mexico. Historically, there has been a stigma around seeking psychological support. The ability to consult with a psychologist from home or from work, at the time it is needed, represents a meaningful shift for patients and delivers substantial value.

Q: What will be the role of Meeting Doctors over the next five years within the broader context of digital health transformation?
A: Our objective is to position ourselves as a market leader and to raise the standards for healthcare and digital health services in Mexico. To achieve this, we must leverage our experience and know-how from other geographies, markets that have already navigated the learning curve, including both successes and mistakes, and apply those lessons locally. By doing so, we can contribute to the development of a more mature, efficient and high-quality digital health ecosystem in Mexico.

Meeting Doctors is a white-label digital healthcare platform connecting medical professionals with users, offering 24/7 access, chat or video consultations, rapid responses, and electronic prescriptions.