Transformative Healthcare Reforms Despite COVID-19

The Ministry of Health announced a historic purchasing agreement with the UN, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tries to find ways to secure access to a COVID-19 vaccine. Despite the global pandemic, Mexico is reforming the sector with revolutionary decisions.

Here is the week in health!

NATIONAL

- In Oaxaca, the local Congress approved a reform to the state law on the rights of girls, boys and adolescents to prohibit the sale of soft drinks and junk food to minors. According to the announcement, this reform also seeks to prohibit free distribution, donation or promotion of sugary drinks and high calorie packaged foods to minors. This applies also to public and private schools and prohibits the installation of vending machines with these items across the state.

- IMSS and PAHO signed an agreement for the new medicine and supplies purchasing scheme. This intends to guarantee access to 350 medicines, vaccines and medical supplies at more accessible prices through WHO’s Strategic Fund for Medicines. Head of IMSS Zoé Robledo and PAHO’s representative in Mexico Cristian Morales assured that these supplies meet regulatory recommendations of international regulatory agencies such as the FDA, the Canadian Regulatory Agency and the European Regulatory Agency. INSABI is another institution that signed the agreement and is looking forward to begin its enforcement.

In response to these new agreements, the pharmaceutical industry in Mexico has shown an active response to the decision. In this article, MBN has gathered the opinion of representative leaders of the industry on the subject.

- Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) is working on the development of a COVID-19 vaccine and intends to ask CONACYT for funding once it is ready and approved.

- Mexico will be part of Sanofi’s trials on its COVID-19 vaccine. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this will make Mexico an active participant in COVID-19 research and will secure its access to a vaccine.

INTERNATIONAL

- Company DnaNudge created a DNA test machine that offers a COVID-19 test result within 90 minutes. The machine does not need laboratory work to generate a result, which is what delays the process.

- Novavax announces positive results after trials on its COVID-19 vaccine. The company is now in pole position in the race for a cure against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

- The US announced an agreement with Johnson & Johnson to secure 100 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine. The agreement contemplates US$1 billion to make this possible. The president of the US assures that the country will have a vaccine before the election date, November 3.