Shaping the Future of Public Health and Policy in Mexico

Mexico’s Ministry of Health has launched a major restructuring of the national healthcare framework under Plan México, projecting US$12 billion in pharmaceutical and medical device investments alongside US$3 billion in clinical research by 2030. The roadmap establishes a Universal Health Service built by dissolving institutional barriers between public health entities.

Mexico is restructuring its public health policy to position the healthcare sector as a primary engine for national economic development and universal coverage. Under the framework of Plan México, designed by the current administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum and Minister of Health David Kershenobich, the federal government is aligning industrial policy with clinical delivery.

"Health is a fundamental right, and this is our priority," says Patricia Clark, Secretary, General Health Council. "Through Plan México, we are establishing policies to promote investment in pharmaceuticals and medical devices while facilitating high-quality clinical research."

The initiative sets ambitious financial milestones through 2030, aiming to attract US$3 billion in clinical trial investments. Government leaders expect these inflows to strengthen domestic biotechnology ecosystems and secure regional supply chains for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients across the Americas.

A core component of the strategy involves reforming COFEPRIS to reduce bureaucratic friction for health sciences companies. The regulatory agency is implementing an abbreviated reliance pathway to expedite clinical trial protocols once approved by national bioethics committees.

"After approval by our national bioethics committees, protocols will require at most 30–45 days for full operational authorization," says Clark. This abbreviated timeline applies to both public health institutions and private clinical research centers.

The federal government aims to reduce national reliance on imported pharmaceuticals by expanding domestic production capacity. Standardized procurement schedules will align directly with national health priorities to guarantee timely access to critical medicines.

Dissolving Institutional Silos for Universal Health

Mexico is addressing its historically fragmented healthcare system, which currently splits care across public institutions such as IMSS, ISSSTE, and IMSS-Bienestar. The new Universal Health Service framework seeks to blur institutional boundaries at primary care and third-level emergency care units.

Citizens will receive medical attention at the nearest primary care facility regardless of formal employment or social security affiliation. "We are eliminating institutional barriers so that a worker affiliated with ISSSTE can utilize resources at an IMSS-Bienestar facility if it is closer to home," Clark says.

To support this expansion, the Ministry of Health is deploying 12,750 new primary care clinics across 24 states. Infrastructure construction is set to begin generating operational capacity by 2027, focusing on resolving patient needs at the community level before health issues escalate to tertiary hospitals.

Mandatory PRONAMs and the Cardio-Renal-Metabolic Strategy

Central to the healthcare transformation is the rollout of National Medical Care Protocols, known as PRONAMs. Developed by the General Health Council, these mandatory 15–20 page documents replace non-binding clinical guidelines with standardized diagnostic and therapeutic mandates.

Unlike conventional guidelines that offer multiple treatment pathways, PRONAMs establish single evidence-based protocols that dictate federal medicine purchasing and distribution. Each protocol includes a one-page visual infographic and QR codes linking clinicians to decision-making tools.

The first six PRONAMs published in April 2025 address conditions representing 80% of Mexico's disease burden, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and obesity, says Clark. They also encompass life-course immunization and healthcare during the first 1,000 days of life for children aged 0–2 years.

The portfolio now includes 12 published protocols targeting prevalent oncological conditions such as breast, cervical, and pediatric cancers. A dedicated pediatric protocol utilizes visual indicators to assist primary care workers and family members in detecting early symptoms like retinoblastoma.

To address cardiovascular disease, which accounts for 37% of national mortality, the health council introduced the Cardio-Renal-Metabolic route. This strategy merges management of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and kidney disease to treat shared pathophysiological mechanisms and protect target organs.

All public health institutions must present institutional implementation plans for the Cardio-Renal-Metabolic route by November 2026. The Ministry of Health has also expanded asynchronous online training, registering over 81,000 healthcare professionals in its diabetes course since March 2026 and 2,200 in its early-childhood program since August 2026.

Additionally, the council is collaborating with patient advocacy groups to publish simplified citizen protocols. These resources aim to empower patients to understand standard care expectations when visiting primary healthcare facilities nationwide.