MHS 2026 - Impact Report

IMPACT REPORT

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

As Mexico grapples with an aging population and a growing rate of chronic diseases, the country is also stepping up its efforts to spread access to innovative treatments, restructuring its public policy to position the healthcare sector as a primary engine for national economic development.

Under the framework of Plan México, the federal government is aligning industrial policy with clinical delivery. Authorities are targeting US$3 billion in clinical research investment by 2030, an accelerated 30-45 day authorization pathway, and 12,750 new primary care clinics across 24 states.

That push follows a reform to the General Health Law, which made digital health records and interoperability mandatory nationwide.

Mexico’s chronic disease burden continues to grow, with overweight and obesity affecting over 70% of the country’s population and type 2 diabetes affecting 17% of adults. That clinical burden collides with a financing gap: private insurance covers roughly 10% of the population and out-of-pocket health spending remains more than double the OECD average, pushing insurers and providers toward alliances and AI-enabled risk management to widen coverage.

Supply chain resilience and cross-sector collaboration will be key to increasing access to healthcare services. Mexico’s dependence on Chinesesourced active ingredients points to predictable multi-year procurement and expanded cold-chain logistics as middle-term fixes. Mexico, as the world’s fifth-largest medical device exporter, would also benefit from moving from assembly toward technology development.

Amid these challenges, industry leaders met at Mexico Health Summit 2026 to discuss strategies to navigate this complex environment. The event brought together key players from pharmaceutical, medical device, insurance, and hospital groups to analyze strategies for chronic disease management, medical device access, digital health policy, and supply chain sovereignty, among other topics. By aligning technical investments with tangible business results, the summit positioned itself as the indispensable strategic platform for ensuring Mexico’s competitiveness.

4

C o n fe r e n ce I mpact

5

168

41

271

15th

companies

conference participants

sponsors

speakers

9,878 visits to the conference website

Edition

Breakdown by job title LinkedIn pre-event CTR: 473%

29.3% CEO / VP / President / Founder

LinkedIn during the event CTR: 11,1%

Impressions: 130,624

Impressions: 9,257

Engagement rate: 7.1%

Engagement rate: 12,06%

20.9% Director / Partner 29.8% Associate / Executive

/ Coordinator

18.4% Head / Manager / Lead 1.6%

Chemist / Doctor

Twitter pre-event CTR: 0.8% Impressions: 1,149 Engagement rate: 0.7 %

Twitter during the event CTR: 0.2%

Impressions: 446

Engagement rate: 1.3%

Matchmaking Mexico’s leading B2B conference organizer uses a customized app to deliver an unparalleled experience The MBE App delivered AI-powered intent-based matchmaking to Mexico Event/Summit/Forum 2024 attendees

MBE App Impact

Matchmaking intentions

177

participants

577

matchmaking communications

225

1:1 meetings conducted

Total

1,352

714 Trading 638 Networking

5

C ompa n y A tte n da n ce •

A.I. VALI Inc.

•

Eli Lilly

•

AbbVie

•

EMBALL ISO

•

Aceites Especiales

•

Embassy of Canada

•

ACOLSA

•

Embassy of the Netherlands

•

ADHealthComm

•

Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited

•

AIDICARE

•

Endress+Hauser México

•

AMID

•

Extendeal

•

ANAFARMEX

•

Ferring Pharmaceuticals

•

ANUBIS BARCELONA

•

Foqus Technologies Inc.

•

Aranexx Inc.

•

FUNSALUD

•

ARCERA LIFE SCIENCES

•

FYELABS

•

Art Tecnica

•

GE healthcare

•

ASOCIACION HEALTHTECH MX

•

Gelita

•

Astellas Farma Mexico

•

Global Health Intelligence

•

Avantpage Life Sciences

•

GLS Advisory

•

Avanzia Pharma

•

Government of Ontario

•

AXO Capital

•

GRUPO CT SCANNER

•

Baker McKenzie

•

Grupo Financiero Banorte

•

Base Labs

•

Grupo ICB

•

BAXTER HEALTHCARE

•

Grupo San Angel Inn

•

Bayer Pharmaceutical

•

Grupo SOHIN

•

BBVA

•

Healex

•

Becerril, Coca & Becerril

•

Healthtech Mexico

•

Biocodex

•

HHM

•

BIOMIQ

•

Hospital ABC

•

BookJane Inc.

•

Hospital Ángeles

•

Boston Scientific

•

Hospital San Angel Inn

•

BuscaMed

•

Hospitales MAC

•

Business France Mexico

•

Hospitales Puerta de Hierro

•

Canada Masq

•

Houston Methodist Global Health Care Service

•

CANIFARMA

•

HUMAN STAFF

•

CAS

•

ICAN LatAm / BOTICAN

•

CCE

•

IMSS Bienestar

•

Centinel BioGen

•

Insumos para la salud

•

Central Media

•

Integral B

•

ClarkeModet

•

Intellijoint Surgical

•

Clinic Bioengineering Solutions

•

International SOS

•

Clínica Enlace

•

IntraMed

•

Clínicas del Azúcar

•

ISISPHARMA MEXICO

•

Clínicas del Hombre

•

Juama

•

Consejo de Salubridad General

•

Kabla Diagnostics

•

Consorcio Mexicano de Hospitales

•

Kerme

•

COPARMEX

•

KRYOTEC

•

Costamed Hyperbaric

•

LABORATORIO FARMACEUTICO LFB

•

COZUMEL INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL

•

Laboratorios Grin

•

CROMODATA

•

Linet

•

DHL Global Forwarding

•

Living Healthy & Active LLC

•

Direct Relief

•

MAG Medical Group

•

doc24

•

mamotest

•

DTX

•

Marcela Sabaini

•

DVL Film House

•

MARZAM

•

Edelman

•

McCann Health Sistemas Integrales

6

C ompa n y A tte n da n ce •

MEDICAL CORPORATION GROUP SA DE CV

•

Secretaría de Saud

•

Medikit

•

Seguros Banorte

•

Mediproses

•

Siemens Healthineers

•

Medirex Systems Inc.

•

Sociedad Mexicana de Salud Pública

•

medisi america

•

Sofía Business

•

Medistik by TRAXION

•

Starlight Medical Care

•

Medtronic

•

Takeda

•

MeetingDoctors

•

TecSalud

•

Mesh Scheduling Inc. (Mesh AI)

•

Teico & Inpulse

•

Micro Pharmaceuticals México

•

Telepatía

•

MicroPort

•

TerumoBCT

•

Milenium Group

•

TEVA

•

Ministry of Health

•

Tive

•

MiRoncol Diagnostics Inc.

•

TramIA

•

Morillas

•

TuDOC

•

MOTION CORP

•

UCB

•

Mutuus

•

UCIN MEDICA

•

Neolpharma

•

UDEM Health

•

Neuraxpharm

•

UPS

•

Neuroptek

•

Viatris Healthcare

•

Novartis

•

Weser Pharma

•

ONDINE

•

Wiener Lab.

•

Ontario Companies

•

WISSNER-BOSSERHOFF MEXICO

•

Page Executive

•

Worldwide Clinical Trials

•

Pascual Asesoría en famracia

•

•

Pasteur Soft

•

PHARMADVICE

•

Philips

•

Pinya Campoy

•

Pluxee

•

Polar Salud

•

Pragmatec

•

PRODUCTOS FARMACEUTICOS SA DE CV

•

ProMujer by Avanza

•

PROSPERiA

•

Randstad

•

Recordati Rare Diseases

•

Roche

•

Safe Credit

•

Scan Vital

7

PROGRAM

W E D N E S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 9 09:00

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND POLICY IN MEXICO

Speaker: Patricia Clark Peralta, Minister of Health Secretary of the General Health Council 09:30

POLICY VS. PRACTICE: DIGITIZING MEXICO’S HEALTHCARE ECOSYSTEM

Moderator: Patrick Devlyn, President of the Health Comission at CCE Speaker: José Pérez, Director General, Health Sector Modernization – Ministry of Health

Carina Reverter, CEO of Mexico & LATAM at Meeting Doctors

Jesús Hernández, President of Mexican HealthTech Association

Adrián Chávez, Regulatory Affairs and Innovation Manager of CANIFARMA

Guillermo Murra, Country Manager of GE HealthCare Latin America 10:15

RESHAPING CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT: FROM PIPELINE TO PREVENTION

Moderator: Karen Flores, Director General of CAMIMEX Panelists: Rafael Suárez, VP LATAM & General manager of TEVA Mexico

Mónica Palomanes, General Manager of Roche Pharma México

Diego Ocampo, Technology VP of Neolpharma

Guy Jean Savoir, President of National Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry

Carlos Kane, Senior Director Access & Corporate Affairs of Eli Lilly

Sergio Vargas, General Manager of AbbVie Mexicos 11:15

ACCELERATING CANADA-MEXICO LIFE SCIENCES INNOVATION

Panelists: José Abad-Puelles, Commercial Counsellor. Head of the Ontario Trade and Investment office of Alberta, Canada

Dan-Tam Nguyen Trade Commissioner of Alberta, Canada 11:30

NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK & AI-BASED MATCHMAKING

12:00

MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE NETWORKS TO REDUCE MEXICO’S HEALTH BURDENA

Moderator: Bruno Valera, CEO of Medikit Panelists: Sandro Scomparim, CEO of Linet

Marcelo Cruz, Co-CEO of Clínicas del Hombre

Federico Lozano, CEO of Kabla Diagnósticos

Pablo Ricalde, General Director of Consorcio Mexicano de Hospitales

Alvaro Cepeda, CEO of Polar Salud

Javier Lozano, CEO of Clinicas del Azúcar 12:45

UNLOCKING LATAM REAL WORLD DATA: FROM INVISIBLE TO OPPORTUNITY

Panelists: Keila Barral, CEO of Cromodata 13:00

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND POLICY IN MEXICO

Moderator: Ana Riquelme, Executive Director of AMID Speaker: Héctor Orellana, VP Latam North of Medtronic

Agustín Zabulanes, General Director of Boston Scientific

Alejandro Paolini, CEO of Siemens Healthineers

Negal Ciliberto, Country Manager of Philips Healthcare 13:45

PHARMA FUTURE THROUGH DIGITAL INNOVATION

Panelists: Victor Villalba, Site Lead Takeda Innovation Center Check the panel/presentation’s highlights on mexicobusiness.mx clicking on the icon

8

PROGRAM

14:00

NETWORKING LUNCH & AI-BASED MATCHMAKING

15:00

REBUILDING MEXICO’S PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLY CHAIN

Moderator: Marcos Pascual, Commercial Director of National Association of Pharmacies of Mexico Panelists: Alberto Miranda, General Director of MARZAM

Carlos Oconitrillo, Supply Chain Management Head Bayer Pharmaceutical Division

Gabriel Obregon, Vice President of Operations, Latin America of UPS

Gabriel Morales, General Director of Weser Pharma 15:45

THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS: RESHAPING PRIVATE INSURANCE, ALLIANCES

Moderator: Carla Calderón, Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences of Baker McKenzie Mexico Panelists: Jean-Louis Brunet Torres, Founder & CEO of Mutuus

Salvador Alonso y Caloca, General Director of Seguros Banorte

Diego Diaz , General Director of Hospital San Angel Inn

Carlos Arellano, General Director of TecSalud

Enrique Enriquez, VP of Data & AI of Sofia 16:30

THE FUTURE STARTS NOW: WHAT HEALTHCARE LEADERS MUST DO NEXT

Panelists: Héctor Valle, President of FunSalud 17:00

NETWORKING COCKTAIL & AI-BASED MATCHMAKING

19:00

END OF MEXICO HEALTH SUMMIT 2026

Check the panel/presentation’s highlights on mexicobusiness.mx clicking on the icon

9

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND POLICY IN MEXICO Mexico’s Ministry of Health has launched a

A core component of the strategy involves

major restructuring of the national healthcare

reforming COFEPRIS to reduce bureaucratic

framework under Plan México, projecting

friction for health sciences companies.

US$12 billion in pharmaceutical and medical

The regulatory agency is implementing an

device investments alongside US$3 billion

abbreviated reliance pathway to expedite

in clinical research by 2030. The roadmap

clinical trial protocols once approved by

establishes a Universal Health Service built

national bioethics committees.

by dissolving institutional barriers between public health entities.

“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.

“After approval by our national bioethics committees, protocols will require at most 30–45 days for full

The federal government aims to reduce

operational authorization”

national reliance on imported pharmaceuticals

Patricia Clark Peralta

by expanding domestic production capacity.

Minister of Health | Secretary of the General Health Council

Standardized procurement schedules will align directly with national health priorities to guarantee timely access to critical medicines.

Mexico is restructuring its public health policy

Dissolving Institutional Silos for Universal Health

to position the healthcare sector as a primary engine for national economic development

Mex i co i s a d d re ss i n g i ts h i storic a lly

a n d u n i ve r s a l c ove ra g e . U n d e r t h e

fragmented healthcare system, which curently

framework of Plan México, designed by the

splits care across public institutions such as

current administration of President Claudia

IMSS, ISSSTE, and IMSS-Bienestar. The new

Sheinbaum and Minister of Health David

Universal Health Service framework seeks to

Kershenobich, the federal government is

blur institutional boundaries at primary care

aligning industrial policy with clinical delivery.

and third-level emergency care units.

“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.

10

Citizens will receive medical attention at

The first six PRONAMs published in April

the nearest primary care facility regardless

2025 address conditions representing

of formal employment or social security

80% of Mexico’s disease burden, including

affiliation. “We are eliminating institutional

hypertension, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney

barriers so that a worker affiliated with ISSSTE

disease, and obesity, says Clark. They also

can utilize resources at an IMSS-Bienestar

encompass life-course immunization and

facility if it is closer to home,” Clark says.

healthcare during the first 1,000 days of life for children aged 0–2 years.

To support this expansion, the Ministry of Health is deploying 12,750 new primary

The portfolio now includes 12 published

care clinics across 24 states. Infrastructure

protocols targeting prevalent oncological

construction is set to begin generating

conditions such as breast, cervical, and

operational capacity by 2027, focusing on

pediatric cancers. A dedicated pediatric

resolving patient needs at the community

protocol utilizes visual indicators to assist

level before health issues escalate to tertiary

primary care workers and family members in

hospitals.

detecting early symptoms like retinoblastoma.

Mandatory PRONAMs and the Cardio-Renal-Metabolic Strategy

To address cardiovascular disease, which accounts for 37% of national mortality, the health council introduced the Cardio-

Central to the healthcare transformation is

Renal-Metabolic route. This strategy merges

the rollout of National Medical Care Protocols,

management of hypertension, diabetes,

known as PRONAMs. Developed by the

obesity, and kidney disease to treat shared

General Health Council, these mandatory

pathophysiological mechanisms and protect

15–20 page documents replace non-binding

target organs.

clinical guidelines with standardized diagnostic and therapeutic mandates.

All public health institutions must present institutional implementation plans for

Unlike conventional guidelines that offer

the Cardio-Renal-Metabolic route by

multiple treatment pathways, PRONAMs

November 2026. The Ministry of Health

establish single evidence-based protocols

has also expanded asynchronous online

that dictate federal medicine purchasing and

training, registering over 81,000 healthcare

distribution. Each protocol includes a one-

professionals in its diabetes course since

page visual infographic and QR codes linking

March 2026 and 2,200 in its early-childhood

clinicians to decision-making tools.

program since August 2026.

11

Additionally, the council is collaborating with

empower patients to understand standard

patient advocacy groups to publish simplified

care expectations when visiting primary

citizen protocols. These resources aim to

healthcare facilities nationwide.

POLICY VS. PRACTICE: DIGITIZING MEXICO’S HEALTHCARE ECOSYSTEM Mexico’s January 2026 reform to the General Health Law made digital health, electronic health records, and interoperability mandatory nationwide. However, experts warn that the law’s success depends on regulatory flexibility, unified technical standards, and mandatory adoption rather than voluntary compliance. Persistent gaps in NOM-024 compliance, low public health spending, and uneven internet connectivity remain the main barriers between the legal mandate and realworld patient outcomes.

Mexico’s healthcare system crossed a legal threshold in January 2026, when a decree published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) reformed the General

fail to comply with NOM-024-SSA3-2012,

Health Law to make digital health a matter

the technical standard governing clinical

of general public health, not an optional

information systems, undermining both data

upgrade. The reform formally defines

security and cross-provider interoperability,

telehealth, telemedicine, mobile health,

reports MBN.

and electronic health records, and requires healthcare providers, public and private

Mexico’s digital health market was valued

alike, to digitize clinical information, ensure

at approximately US$2.86 billion in 2024,

interoperability between systems, and follow

the second-largest in Latin America, with

cybersecurity and data protection protocols.

telemedicine adoption up 150% since 2020,

Paper-only clinical records are no longer valid

even as public health spending remains

under the new framework.

structurally low, at an estimated 2.7% of GDP compared with an OECD average of 7.6%.

“Interoperability and regulatory certainty are

Roughly 83% of Mexican health startups were

key to technologically unifying the public

still in early stages as of 2023, reflecting a

and private healthcare sectors,” says Efraín

young, fragmented market that regulators are

Cornejo, Director of Digital Health, Ministry of

now asking to scale nationally under a single

Health. Cornejo says the government is not

legal standard.

building a single national database but rather regulating an ecosystem so that public and

Jesús Hernández, President, Mexican

private systems can communicate through

HealthTech Association, says Mexico needs

shared standards, adding that regulation

both public investment and clear regulation to

“does not need to be very rigorous; on the

grow its health tech sector and attract foreign

contrary, it has to be flexible” to keep pace

direct investment. Hernández draws a direct

with fast-moving technology.

parallel with Mexico’s electronic invoicing mandate: “What really drove it was making it

The gap between mandate and execution is

mandatory. Once electronic invoicing became

where the risk concentrates. A large share

obligatory in 2014, e-commerce exploded in

of Mexico’s electronic health records still

our country. If we want that same boom in

12

health, we need something similar with the

Connectivity remains the reform’s most

clinical record.”

significant constraint. An estimated 73.6% of Mexican households, or 28.8 million, had

Early infrastructure for that standard

internet access in 2024, according to the

is emerging. In October 2025, Mexico’s

National Institute of Statistics and Geography

Ministry of Public Education launched the

(INEGI), meaning more than a quarter of the

Professional Status Constancy platform to

country still lacks the basic connectivity a

verify healthcare professionals’ credentials

unified electronic clinical record and universal

against a database of more than 15 million

e-prescribing system would require, a divide

professional licenses accumulated over 80

that is sharper in rural areas.

years, registering 800,000 downloads and 2 million queries in its first month. Under

The sector ’s more immediate problem

the January 2026 reform, every electronic

predates digitization itself, explains Adrián

prescription must now be validated against

Chávez, Regulatory Affairs and Innovation

that credential system. The Ministry of

Manager, CANIFARMA. “Before digitizing,

Health and the Mexican Social Security

we need to simplify. We found that the same

Institute (IMSS) have since moved to build

information we already had digitally kept

on that foundation, signing a pact in August

being requested from us again in physical

2026 to advance electronic clinical record

form,” Chávez says, calling for structured

interoperability, starting implementation

training programs across the sector before

at the Hospital of the Woman ahead of a

scaling any system nationally.

broader interinstitutional data exchange target set for January 2027.

Moreover, fragmented, overly complex applications have repeatedly failed to gain

With many entities operating across the

traction with patients, says Carina Reverter,

healthcare sector, the key is establishing

CEO Mexico and Latin America, Meeting

unified standards and neutrality regarding

Doctors. “It does not work to have six

technology, says Salvador Ledón, Director

different applications, one for vital signs,

for Government Affairs and Policy, GE

another for lab results, another for a digital

HealthCare Latin America. “If we look at

doctor. It all has to be in the same place,”

the percentage of data actually used in

Reverter says.

hospitals worldwide, it is minimal. Over 90% of the data that comes out of every hospital

For the sector, the challenge is no longer

goes to waste,” Ledón says, calling that gap

whether Mexico should digitize its healthcare

an enormous opportunity to cut costs and

ecosystem, but how quickly infrastructure,

expand access.

training, and regulatory clarity can catch up with a law that is already in force.

13

RESHAPING CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT: FROM PIPELINE TO PREVENTION Mexico’s healthcare system faces a growing problem in the shape of chronic diseases, which represent the country’s main morbidity and mortality causes. This issue keeps driving multiple stakeholders from the public and private sectors to search for ways to increase access to healthcare services, while managing the growing costs of such services.

Chronic diseases are driving a growing share of Mexico’s health spending, with diabetes and hypertension control rates still falling short. As pharmaceutical, insurance, and technology leaders convene to discuss the shift from treatment to prevention, the central question is not whether Mexico’s chronic disease model needs to change, but

“In Mexico, 21 million people have high blood

how fast the country can move from a system

pressure, 14 million have diabetes, and 9

built around the pipeline to one built around

million have chronic kidney disease. We must

the patient.

thus offer integrated metabolic treatment,” says Rafael Suárez, Vice President Latin

Chronic diseases have become a persistent

America and General Manager Mexico, TEVA

strain on Mexico’s healthcare system. Type 2

Pharmaceuticals. Suárez points out that

diabetes, for example, affects 17% of Mexican

patients rarely deal with a single condition

adults, with 11.6% already diagnosed and 5.4%

in isolation, creating a complex burden for

still undiagnosed, while hypertension reaches

a public system struggling to raise national

29.1% of the adult population. Among those

life expectancy past 75 years. “Once we

already diagnosed with diabetes, only 33%

understand the dimension, we have to look

achieve glycemic control, and just 60.1% of

at how the government can address it, state

treated hypertension patients keep their

resources alone will not be enough,” he adds.

blood pressure under control, exposing wide gaps between diagnosis and effective

Type 2 diabetes caused 3.1 million healthy

management.

years of life lost in Mexico in 2021, equivalent to 6.6% of the country’s total disease burden, with 66.3% of that burden attributed to

14

to learn how to reduce their progression and limit complications,” says Sergio Vargas, General Manager, AbbVie Mexico. Vargas emphasizes that therapeutic solutions must be paired with comprehensive models across the patient journey, taking into account quality of life, economic productivity, and healthcare resources.

“As an industry, we must move beyond exclusively focusing on selling treatments and think about what types of products would be required for holistic prevention,” says Guy Jean Savoir, President, CANIFARMA. Savoir emphasizes the need to evaluate obesity. Obesity prevalence among Mexican

early diagnosis, nutrition, and environmental

adults rose 42.2% between 2000 and 2018,

factors alongside standard care, noting that

with morbid obesity climbing even faster, at

current global health systems assess the cost

96.5% over the same period. Metabolic and

per dose rather than establishing transparent

cardiometabolic disease has consequently

mechanisms to fund preventive interventions.

become less a matter of individual treatment and more a systemic cost driver, one that

Meanwhile, digital tools are emerging as

patent and generic drug access alone

the connective layer between innovative

cannot resolve without earlier detection and

therapies and daily patient behavior.

sustained adherence.

Wearable devices, IoT-enabled monitoring, and AI-supported adherence platforms are

“We invest heavily in reactive care rather

increasingly positioned to flag complications

than asking ourselves how to anticipate

before they become acute, particularly

and control a health condition beforehand.

for cardiometabolic patients who require

Moving to a preventive state is not a unilateral

continuous, rather than periodic, oversight.

effort; it requires an entire ecosystem to

“Digital tools must be integrated into

help drive this mindset shift. In healthcare,

care mechanisms, and their effectiveness

budgets are never enough, and working

measured with clear evidence. Technology is

together as a whole will be critical,” says

a mechanism, not the objective; the objective

Esmeralda Rodríguez, Head of Mexico, Viatris.

is to improve the patient’s quality of life in an ecosystem that allows for personalized care

Noncommunicable diseases cause 75% of

aligned with their needs,” says Vargas.

deaths worldwide. Directing an additional 1% of GDP toward public health spending,

Carlos Kane, Senior Director of Access

with at least 40% aimed at prevention and

and Corporate Affairs, Eli Lilly, echoes the

treatment, could save close to 5 million lives

importance of cross-sector integration:

a year in low- and middle-income countries,

“Innovation in medicine must continue and

reports Airfinity. The Airfinity report argues

gain strength, but on tech solutions that

that over 1,400 medicines for chronic and

support patients in other areas, generating

noncommunicable diseases have been

alliances is crucial.” He points to collaborative

approved over the past decade, with another

platforms like Lilly’s initiative with Endeavor

9,600 currently in development, a pipeline

to foster local health technology innovation as

that is rapidly outpacing the health systems

key drivers for scaling patient-centered tools.

built to deliver it.

Mexico already has a domestic program that “For chronic illnesses, the objective should

targets community-based chronic disease

not only be to attend to the symptoms, but

screening: PREVENIMSS, IMSS’s two-decade-

15

old preventive care program. However,

supported by AI could offer a route to earlier

researchers say the program still needs

detection in underserved regions.

to adopt stronger secondary prevention measures and new digital resources to

Palomanes says, using the example of Roche’s

meet the country’s chronic disease profile.

collaboration with the Mexican Federation

Scaling a similar model with AI-supported

of Hemophilia, that decentralized specialty

detection into resource-limited areas, rather

care offers a practical blueprint for chronic

than building an entirely new infrastructure,

conditions. “Our health system is often

could enable the expansion of early diagnosis

focused on treating acute episodes rather

across the country.

than long-term management,” she says. “In conditions like hemophilia, what impacts a

“We have to strengthen the country’s

patient’s life most is precisely what remains

primary care system, which means dignifying,

unseen, yet care has historically concentrated

professionalizing, and equipping first-contact

in major urban centers,” adds Palomares,

physicians with better tools. We currently

noting that through this joint initiative, 13

operate with a fragmented primary care

specialized clinics were established across

network, which prevents healthcare workers

Mexico to deliver local, multidisciplinary

from properly catching the signals before a

support for patients living far from primary

patient’s condition escalates,” Savoir says.

hospital hubs. This model brings continuous care directly to where patients live and

Mónica Palomanes, General Manager,

work, providing a clear framework for how

Roche Pharma México, highlights how AI

metabolic and cardiometabolic therapies can

can streamline this frontline screening

reach underserved communities before acute

without overburdening existing staff. “In

complications escalate.

breast cancer screening, for example, there is a shortage of radiologists worldwide. AI

Supplying these decentralized networks

solutions have allowed us to triage high-risk

also requires stronger local supply chains

patients and reduce diagnostic times down

and treatments designed for long-term

to two days, a huge shift for patients living far

compliance. “If we can bring manufacturing

from specialized centers. AI does not replace

closer to the country, it helps secure supply.

the specialist; it empowers primary care to

When thinking about long-term adherence,

catch suspicious cases early, when treatment

innovative combination therapies, combining

is still effective,” she says.

multiple molecules into a single treatment, make it significantly easier for patients

To bring these solutions closer to the patient,

to stick to their regimens and streamline

the regulatory and commercial pieces still

distribution,” Suárez says.

need to align. Bringing both patented and generic medicines to a broader share of

For the pharmaceutical, insurance, and

Mexico’s public and private sectors would

technology industries, the test is whether

depend on distribution models that can

chronic disease management can evolve

reach metabolic and cardiometabolic

beyond treating the condition itself

patients outside major urban hospitals, while

to addressing its long-term impact on

decentralized, community-level partnerships

patients’ lives.

ACCELERATING CANADA-MEXICO LIFE SCIENCES INNOVATION. Canada and Mexico are accelerating cross-

the Ontario Government, and Pragmatec

border life sciences trade and technological

outlined expanding bilateral initiatives

innovation as diplomatic and commercial

spanning digital health, biomanufacturing,

leaders seek to build resilient regional supply

AI, and pharmaceutical infrastructure.

chains. During a trade mission in Mexico City, representatives from the Embassy of Canada,

16

Amid shifting geopolitical dynamics across

“We are seeing a level of collaboration that

North America, Canada and Mexico are

was difficult to imagine a few years ago,”

expanding commercial partnerships in the life

Nguyen says.

sciences and healthcare sectors. During the Mexico Health Summit 2026, trade officials and industry leaders outlined plans to

Sectoral Diversification and Commercial Scale

deepen bilateral integration in digital health, medical technology, and pharmaceutical

While trade between the two nations has

supply chains.

historically centered on the automotive sector, officials are actively pursuing sectoral

“In North America, we are navigating a

diversification. The current trade delegation

period of change and uncertainty in trade

marks the first time Ontario has sent a

matters, which makes reliable alliances more

dedicated life sciences mission to Mexico.

important than ever,” says Dan-Tam Nguyen, Trade Commissioner at the Embassy of

Mexico represents Latin America’s second-

Canada in Mexico. “For Canada, Mexico is a

largest healthcare market, with the sector

key partner.”

accounting for 12% of national gross domestic product. This scale presents significant

Bilateral momentum has accelerated through

co m m e rc i a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s a l o n g s i d e

a series of commercial trade missions.

infrastructure challenges that digital health

In March, a delegation of 150 companies

solutions can help address.

visited Mexico, followed by a Mexican trade mission to Quebec and Toronto in May. The

“ Wh e n we ta l k a b o u t d i ve r s i fi c at ion

latest initiative brought 12 digital health and

processes, it refers not only to new

medical technology companies from Ontario

destinations but also to new sectors,” says

and other Canadian provinces to Mexico City.

José Abad-Puelles, Commercial Counsellor and Head, Ontario Trade and Investment

These activities support the broader Canada-

Office. “Access to healthcare must be for

Mexico Action Plan 2025–2028. To formalize

everyone, and instruments like digital health

public-sector collaboration, Innovation,

can fill that void.”

Science and Economic Development Canada signed a memorandum of understanding with

Ontario serves as Canada’s primary hub for

Mexico’s Ministry of Economy to advance

life sciences. The province generates 60% of

biomanufacturing, industrial innovation, and

national healthcare sector revenues, houses

resilient health supply chains.

53% of the industry workforce, and accounts for 62% of Canada’s health-related exports.

17

Abad-Puelles notes that Ontario’s health

find commercial exchange and technological

ecosystem spans physical and digital

development opportunities,” says Victor

AI, services for aging populations, and

Sanchez, CEO of Pragmatec. “This benefits

specialized infrastructure. The province

the economies of both countries and

operates nuclear research reactors dedicated

addresses relevant health problems on

specifically to cancer research and treatment

both sides.”

development.

Looking ahead, trade representation will

Building Long-Term Bilateral Integration

expand further. In November, the Embassy of Canada and Pragmatec will organize a trade mission focused on biotechnology,

The delegation spent three days in Mexico

pharmaceuticals, critical medicines, and

City visiting universities, hospitals, research

active pharmaceutical ingredients.

centers, and national health institutes. These meetings aimed to establish clinical validation

S a n c h ez e m p h a s i ze s t h a t s u s t a i n e d

partnerships and facilitate direct business

engagement requires reciprocal exchange,

matching with Mexican organizations

encouraging Mexican firms, health institutions,

developing native technology.

and research centers to participate in upcoming trade missions to Ontario, Quebec,

“Canada and Mexico are bringing their

and British Columbia.

bridges closer together so companies can

MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE NETWORKS TO REDUCE MEXICO’S HEALTH BURDEN. the consolidation of institutions under the country’s Universal Health Service aims to move the country closer to universal coverage, its rollout still faces structural fragmentation, uneven intergovernmental coordination, and financial sustainability challenges. At the Mexico Health Summit 2026, panelists across hospitals, insurers, diagnostics, and specialty clinics argued that alliances among these actors are now being asked to resolve that fragmentation, not by building a single unified system, but by aligning multiple ones around shared population health outcomes.

“Institutions across the healthcare system Fragmented incentives among hospitals,

should be optimized to focus more on

insurers, and public institutions limit the

covering specific medical specialties,

impact of Mexico’s healthcare alliances, say

rather than focusing on the patient’s

experts. Meanwhile, outcomes-driven models

medical affiliation,” says Marcelo Cruz, Co-

and shared-metric gaps can help alleviate

CEO, Clínicas del Hombre. Cruz argues

persistent capacity constraints and uneven

that fragmented payment structures push

financing across institutions.

hospitals, insurers, and public institutions to optimize for their own metrics rather than for

Mexico’s healthcare system remains split

the patient in front of them, and that alliances

across public and private tracks that rarely

built around specific conditions, rather than

share data, incentives, or patients. While

around who technically owns the patient

18

relationship, could unlock efficiencies that a

Capacity constraints, however, make scaling

single-payer or single-provider model cannot

difficult without new partnerships. Mexico has

reach on its own.

fewer doctors and hospital beds per capita than the OECD average, and only a fraction of

That framing echoes a broader shift

the imaging equipment, such as MRI and CT

described by Pablo Ricalde, Director General,

scanners, that the population needs. Those

Consorcio Mexicano de Hospitales. Ricalde

gaps make it structurally difficult for any

says the population the health system was

single provider, public or private, to manage

originally designed to serve, one with a life

a population’s health independently, a point

expectancy near 65 years, no longer matches

reinforced by record consultation volumes

the population it actually serves today, as

reported this year across IMSS, ISSSTE, and

medical advances push life expectancy into

IMSS-Bienestar, which delivered a combined

the 80s and 90s. “In the era of AI, patients are

101.2 million first-level consultations between

more curious, informed, and health-conscious

January and July 2026, a 28% increase over

than ever. We have to redesign our care

the same period in 2022.

provision to reflect these advances,” he says.

A coordinated, multidisciplinary approach

Private insurance covers only around 10%

to care can produce measurable outcomes.

of Mexico’s population, meaning employers,

Javier Lozano, Co-Founder and CEO, Clínicas

insurers, and providers who want to align

del Azúcar, says an integrated model that

incentives around prevention are still

bundles physicians, nutritionists, lab testing,

negotiating that alignment case by case rather

and pharmacy access under one membership

than through a common set of population

has lowered the probability that a diabetes

health metrics. Sandro Scomparim, CEO,

patient develops complications, with the

Linet, argues that shared measurement is

company tracking more than 3,000 variables

where the sector is falling short. “Whether

per patient across 51 clinics and over half a

you are a hospital, insurer, or provider, it is

million patients treated since its founding 14

critical to optimize your respective processes

years ago. With over 12 million Mexican adults

and share these across the sector to create

living with diabetes and low-income families

synergies of efficiency,” he says, citing data

spending a significant share of household

showing a single patient fall can add 11.5 days

income managing the disease, panelists

to a hospital stay and that a pressure injury

argued the case for replicating outcomes-

can add US$6,000 to US$11,000 in additional

driven models across chronic conditions

costs, figures the sector rarely tracks or

extends well beyond diabetes.

shares across institutions.

19

Federico Lozano, CEO, Kabla Diagnostics,

Alvaro Cepeda, CEO, Polar Salud, which

connects that measurement gap to speed

operates 10 hospitals, says his company’s

of diagnosis. “We must work not only to

focus on operational efficiency is meant to

diagnose illnesses earlier, but to integrate

pass lower prices to patients directly, arguing

technology to rapidly make treatment

that accessibility, not prevention alone, is

decisions based on those diagnoses,” he says,

the outcome private operators are best

adding that point-of-care testing can shift

positioned to deliver at scale.

costs away from delayed hospitalizations when paired with clear clinical protocols.

Panelists broadly agreed that aligning incentives across payers, providers, and

Uneven public financing compounds the

employers is possible, but several said

challenge. Annual per-beneficiary spending

it requires structural change rather than

varies sharply across IMSS, ISSSTE, and

voluntary cooperation alone, particularly for

IMSS-Bienestar, which is tied to fragmented

the roughly half of the population that neither

budgeting and rising out-of-pocket costs for

private insurance nor current public capacity

households, reports Mexico Business News.

fully reaches.

UNLOCKING LATAM REAL WORLD DATA: FROM INVISIBLE TO OPPORTUNITY Although healthcare generates approximately 30% of all data produced globally, outpacing every other industry, millions of clinical records, lab results, and imaging studies remain trapped in isolated institutional silos that fail to communicate with one another, says Argentina-based healthtech company Cromodata.

“Behind every data point, a person is waiting for a response. We work so that other patients do not have to wait so long,” says Keila Barral, CEO and Founder, Cromodata.

According to Cromodata, this systemic disconnect directly impacts global scientific Fragmented healthcare data across Latin

representation. Less than 0.4% of individuals

America limits research, diagnostics,

represented in international genomic studies

and public health innovation, explains

belong to Latin American populations.

Cromodata. Millions of clinical records

Without regional data assets integrated

remain isolated, while regional populations

into modern research pipelines, global AI

are underrepresented in genomic studies.

models, clinical algorithms, and novel drug

Integrating, anonymizing, and securely

developments risk learning from demographic

l i ce n s i n g h e a l t h d at a co u l d i m p rove

and biological realities fundamentally distinct

representation, protect privacy, generate

from Latin America’s. The company considers

institutional revenue, and enable better AI

that a single patient frequently leaves

models and preventive care.

scattered clinical footprints across disparate providers, from private diagnostic networks

Real-world health data across Latin America

like Laboratorio Médico del Chopo to public

remains heavily fragmented, leaving gaps

institutes like IMSS, without any interoperable

between the clinical information generation

communication between them.

and actionable public health solutions.

20

Healthcare institutions generate vast volumes

declared having at least one co-occurring

of information daily through hospitals,

cardiometabolic condition.

clinics, laboratories, and imaging centers.

Simultaneously, pharmaceutical companies,

To address these disparities, Barral explains

AI developers, governments, and researchers

that Cromodata operates on a multi-sided marketplace and data licensing framework

“We take someone’s data, turn it into nobody’s data, and put it to work for everyone’s health”

Keila Barral CEO | Cromodata

that structures, tokenizes, and anonymizes health data rather than selling raw records.

Because regional regulations focus almost exclusively on personal data laws rather than comprehensive health data standards, applying expert-determination certification under HIPAA and European GDPR standards

urgently require structured data to advance

resolves a critical regulatory gray area,

treatment models and improve diagnostics.

ensuring patient consent is paired with strict identity protection.

Barral emphasizes that transforming raw health data into structured, anonymized

Barral stressed that this framework allows

assets under international standards like

a single anonymized data point to be

HIPAA and GDPR can bridge these industry

licensed multiple times, creating a double

needs. “We take someone’s data, turn it

return. Under a subscription-style licensing

into nobody’s data, and put it to work for

model, healthcare institutions retain full

everyone’s health,” Barral explains, noting

data governance, while pharmaceutical

that anonymizing responses and displaying

developers, AI labs, and researchers purchase

aggregated results protects individual patient

time-bound, purpose-specific licenses with a

identity through irreversible de-identification

strict prohibition on secondary resale. Health

while revealing underlying health patterns

institutions retain the majority of the recurring

and cardiometabolic risk factors across

revenue generated from licensing, with some

populations.

medical centers earning up to three times more from an anonymized image than what

Recent health mapping data highlights

insurers reimbursed for the initial scan, while

significant gaps in preventive care and

Latin American patient populations gain

cardiometabolic health. Among individuals

proper representation in global medical

with a family history of medical conditions,

research, leading to better science, improved

52% had not undergone a preventive checkup

diagnostics, and more effective treatments.

within the past year. Additionally, among those reporting overweight or obesity, 48%

21

Currently operating across eight countries,

network is on track to encompass 15% of

with core footprints in Argentina, Brazil,

Latin America and the Caribbean’s patient

and an expanding operation in Mexico, the

population.

THE FUTURE OF MEXICO’S MEDICAL DEVICE ECOSYSTEM

Mexico must leverage its mature

solutions,” says Alejandro Paolini, CEO,

manufacturing footprint to become a premier

Siemens Healthineers. Paolini notes that

hub for technological innovation, clinical

Mexico has traditionally been recognized as

research, and expanded healthcare access,

a highly competitive manufacturing platform,

said experts at Mexico Health Summit 2026.

supported by deep industrial clusters in

The discussion addressed how overcoming

states like Baja California and Chihuahua.

re g u l ato r y b ot t l e n e c ks , m o d e r n i z i n g institutional procurement formularies, and

In 2025 alone, Mexico exported US$14.62

deploying advanced tools like AI, robotics,

billion in medical, surgical, and dental

and precision diagnostics are crucial to

instruments to the United States, contributing

bridging the country’s domestic care deficits.

to US$29.98 billion in total optical and medical equipment shipments north of

Mexico stands at a pivotal turning point

the border. However, sustaining long-term

where its global manufacturing dominance

competitiveness requires moving beyond

must actively convert into domestic

labor-intensive assembly lines to embrace

healthcare transformation. While nearshoring

high-value technology segments, including

momentum and established industrial

theranostics, photon-counting computed

clusters have firmly cemented the nation’s

tomography, and advanced radiotherapy,

role as an international production power,

says Paolini.

leading medical device executives argue that the sector’s top strategic priority must shift toward local technological development,

Addressing Domestic Deficits Through Targeted Technology

regulatory modernization, and expanding p a t i e n t a cce ss a c ro ss t h e d o m e st i c

The urgency to shift focus inward is

health system.

underscored by the severe infrastructure and diagnostic deficits within Mexico’s

“Mexico is the fifth-largest medical device

domestic health system. According to KPMG

exporter globally and the first in Latin

Mexico analysis, the nation operates with

America, but the main challenge is taking the

approximately a quarter of the diagnostic

next step to become a hub for technological

imaging equipment (such as MRI and CT

development and high-value healthcare

scanners) required to adequately serve its

22

population. Furthermore, Mexico records just

that can dramatically alter clinical outcomes.

2.5 doctors and 1.6 hospital beds per 1,000

Expanding access to these advanced

people, falling significantly short of OECD averages of 3.3 doctors and 4.8 beds.

Overcoming these systemic deficits requires aligning technological adoption with Mexico’s most urgent epidemiological priorities, particularly chronic non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and cancer. “Timely diagnosis, empowering overburdened healthcare professionals, and ensuring continuous patient follow-up are the three main health priorities that medical devices must address,” says Negal Ciliberto, Country Leader and Health Systems Finance, Philips Mexico.

Ciliberto explains that healthcare workers face immense administrative burdens and limited operational resources, leading to long waiting

technologies helps resolve the complex

times and fragmented care. By combining

equation of improving patient care within

hardware with intelligent software, AI, and

tight public health budgets.

specialized professional training programs, health systems can streamline hospital

Modernizing Regulation and

workflows, reduce operational bottlenecks,

Frameworks to Broaden Access

and give clinical personnel more time to concentrate on direct patient care.

A major obstacle to deploying these advancements locally is the extended

“Focusing technological innovation on high-

timeline required for new technologies to

incidence conditions allows health systems

navigate regulatory and administrative

and manufacturers to maximize direct patient

hurdles. On average, an innovative medical

impact,” says Ciliberto.

technology takes 5.5 years to enter Mexico’s public healthcare system, driven by lengthy

Paolini also points to cardiovascular devices,

health registrations and delayed updates to

remote monitoring tools, and minimally

institutional formularies.

invasive procedures as critical segments “Simplifying regulatory and procurement pathways is necessary to ensure advanced surgical robotics and orthopedic solutions reach public facilities efficiently,” says Héctor Orellana, Vice President North Latin America, Medtronic. Orellana also notes that while advanced technologies like robotic surgery and remote monitoring can fundamentally transform hospital efficiency and patient throughput, bureaucratic delays prevent public institutions from realizing these operational benefits in a timely manner.

To narrow this gap, COFEPRIS issued regulations establishing reliance pathways

23

that recognize prior approvals from reference

stakeholder collaboration among device

international bodies and the World Health

manufacturers, public and private healthcare

Organization. This mechanism allows the

providers, academic institutions, and

agency to evaluate research protocols,

government authorities. “Aligning industry

grant health registrations, and approve good

capabilities with government health goals and

manufacturing practice certificates without

academic research is essential to transform

duplicating full technical reviews.

manufacturing strength into domestic health ecosystem growth,” says Ana Riquelme,

“Regulatory processes must act as facilitators

Executive Director, AMID.

of innovation without compromising patient safety,” says Orellana. He emphasizes that

Riquelme highlights that while Mexico

this same spirit of innovation must extend

has successfully established itself as an

to regulatory science and procurement

export engine, consolidating its position

frameworks, creating a synchronized chain

requires building strong domestic research

that allows new technologies to move

and clinical trial networks. By pairing local

seamlessly from production to clinical

university talent with industry expertise and

application.

supportive government policies, Mexico can transition from an assembly base into a true

Building Ecosystem Collaboration

center for medical innovation, ensuring its

for Long-Term Growth

booming export advantage directly elevates healthcare quality for Mexican patients.

Achieving a self-sustaining medical device ecosystem requires structured, multi-

PHARMA FUTURE THROUGH DIGITAL INNOVATION Digital capabilities only create value when

within a broader ecosystem that includes

tied to measurable patient outcomes, making

regulation, process change, and cross-sector

technology as one element within a broader

collaboration, rather than a standalone

healthcare ecosystem, says Takeda’s Victor

objective for the pharmaceutical industry.

Villalba. Takeda is focusing on R&D, therapy design, plasma-derived therapies, and supply chain quality , while strengthening Mexico’s role as a global capability hub.

“Integrating new health technologies and building digital capabilities only adds value when applied to real care outcomes. Digitalization for digitalization’s sake adds little valuh”

Victor Villalba

Site Lead | Takeda Innovation Center

Takeda is pushing digital transformation as a means to strengthen patient care, not as an end in itself, says Victor Villalba, GDM Site Lead Mexico, Takeda. Speaking at the Mexico Health Summit 2026, Villalba positioned technology as one component

24

well as local talent in software development and data science as key factors behind the decision. Villalba highlights that Takeda employees have logged more than 30,000 hours of training in digital skills and emerging technologies, underscoring the company’s effort to build internal capacity rather than treat digitalization as an isolated technology purchase.

The company marks 245 years of global operations and 60 years in Mexico, a tenure Villalba links to consistent trust and reputation management within the biopharmaceutical sector. He argues that any technology deployment must account for the full patient ecosystem, including hospitals, physicians, regulators, and family support systems, warning that narrowly scoped digital solutions risk producing limited results.

“Integrating new health technologies and

Takeda’s emphasis on applied, outcome-

building digital capabilities only adds

driven digitalization echoes a broader shift

value when applied to real care outcomes.

underway across Mexico’s pharmaceutical

Digitalization for digitalization’s sake adds

sector. Sanofi’s MX$665 million investment

little value,” says Villalba. He adds that

in clinical research in immunology, oncology,

innovation is not the product of a single

vaccines, and chronic disease treatment

breakthrough idea but a methodical,

similarly reflects how AI and data-driven

sustained process built across the company’s

research are becoming central to accelerating

business units, including gastroenterology,

drug development timelines in the country,

rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies,

rather than serving as peripheral initiatives.

oncology, neuroscience, and vaccines.

T h e p u s h a l s o a l i g n s w i t h g row i n g Villalba frames Takeda’s approach around

institutional momentum around digital health

four core value areas: R&D aimed at reducing

infrastructure. Hospital General de México’s

diagnostic and treatment timelines, therapy

launch of an AI research center integrating

design that eases the patient journey, plasma-

data science and engineering into clinical and

derived therapy production, and supply

administrative applications signals a broader

chain quality that ensures treatments reach

move from isolated digital pilots toward

patients on time and in the right condition.

permanent infrastructure.

He notes that all four areas are guided by patient-centricity as the company’s

Villalba’s remarks reinforce the theme that

primary decision-making criterion, ahead of

talent development is inseparable from

commercial considerations.

digital transformation. He points to Takeda’s capability centers as a mechanism for

Takeda operates more than 20 manufacturing

building software engineering, data science,

sites and two specialized biopharmaceutical

and agile transformation expertise locally,

R&D centers globally, with a presence in

positioning Mexico’s talent pool as a driver

more than 80 countries. In Mexico, the

of the company’s broader digital strategy

company has invested in one of its three

rather than a downstream beneficiary of it.

global capability development hubs, citing geographic and time zone alignment as

25

REBUILDING MEXICO’S PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLY CHAIN Mexico is working to strengthen

starting materials, where global supply is

pharmaceutical sovereignty by expanding

concentrated in a handful of countries. China

d o m e s t i c m a n u fa c t u r i n g , i m p r ov i n g

alone supplies roughly 70% of the precursors

regulatory efficiency, and increasing supply-

used to manufacture acetaminophen and,

chain visibility, say industry experts. Heavy

by some estimates, up to 90% of the active

dependence on imported APIs creates

ingredients behind widely used antibiotics,

vulnerability, while medicine waste and

according to a US Senate Special Committee

shortages reveal coordination gaps. Strategic

on Aging analysis of the foreign generic

public procurement, infrastructure investment,

pharmaceutical supply chain.

incentives, security, and regional export opportunities could transform Mexico from

Industry leaders emphasize that true

importer to reliable pharmaceutical supplier.

sovereignty does not mean absolute isolation or total self-sufficiency, but rather

Mexico’s pharmaceutical industry has

guaranteed, intelligent access to critical

spent recent years proving it can withstand

medicines. For Mexico, closing that gap is

disruption. The next test is whether it can

less an efficiency question than a strategic

build enough domestic manufacturing

one: whether the country can consolidate

capacity to reduce its exposure to those

scattered manufacturing capabilities into the

disruptions in the first place, rather than

kind of concentrated production power that

absorbing them shipment by shipment.

lets it act as a supplier to the region, not only a buyer from it.

“The system must promote collaborative practices rather than working in silos where

Building that local manufacturing power

actors detach themselves from the equation,”

requires navigating a clear gradient of

says Alberto Miranda, General Director,

technical complexity across drug production

MARZAM. “A bottleneck does not simply

stages. Carlos Oconitrillo, Supply Chain

occur when a company fails to obtain product;

Management Head, Bayer Pharmaceutical

it happens because ecosystem actors fail to

Division, notes that manufacturing spans

anticipate demand together to ensure the

API synthesis, bulk formulation, and final

right medicine reaches the patient.”

conditioning. He adds that while APIs are technically complex, their low volume makes

Much of that exposure traces back to

air transport economically viable. Conversely,

active pharmaceutical ingredients and key

final product conditioning involves moving

26

high volume and mostly air, causing logistics

sourcing one. IMSS wrote off MX$177.4 million

costs to surge. Oconitrillo explains that

(US$10.5 million) in expired medicines in

this reality opens a clear regional window:

2022 alone. ISSSTE reported average annual

while high-specialty therapies often remain

losses of MX$102 million (US$6.04 million)

near parent company headquarters, Mexico

that same year from drugs that expired in

can capture high-volume formulation and

warehouses before reaching patients, even

packaging for Latin America, competing

as patients with conditions such as cancer

directly with emerging manufacturing hubs in

and HIV protested shortages of those same

Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina,

categories of medicine. Expired stock and

and Brazil.

active shortages coexisting inside the same public health system is precisely the kind

Capturing that market, and expanding

of bottleneck that stronger shared visibility

into rare domestic API synthesis, demands

and traceability between public buyers

addressing structural barriers to investment

and private logistics providers are meant

ROI. A primary hurdle is regulatory and

to prevent.

administrative latency across agencies like COFEPRIS, CONAGUA, CFE, and

“A bad sales forecast from a miscalculated

SEMARNAT, where site inclusion approvals

public sector order impacts the private

and technology transfer authorizations can

market as well. When there is unfulfilled public

take over two years. Oconitrillo explained that

demand, patients turn to the private market,

Bayer is executing a MX$1.1 billion (US$65

squeezing private demand planning. The volume is so massive that it can compromise overall availability across the entire market,” says Gabriel Morales, General Director at Weser Pharma.

Logistics providers and private distribution networks are already positioning for a larger role in closing that gap. Marcos Pascual, Commercial Director, ANAFARMEX, highlights that Mexico’s private distribution backbone operates over 1,000 cold-chain vehicles and 250,000m² of warehouse space to move more than 2.4 billion units monthly.

This infrastructure powers over 20,000 pharmacy-adjacent clinics conducting 20 million monthly consultations, providing urban populations access to medications within five to ten minutes.

million) expansion of its Lerma facility, but while exports to the US market can begin as

Simultaneously, UPS Healthcare opened a

early as 2027, regulatory timelines delay local

10,700m2 cold chain cross-dock facility in

domestic market supply until 2030. To draw

Mexico City in early 2025, certified under

new capital away from competing nations,

IATA’s CEIV Pharma standard and capable

industry insiders consider that Mexico

of handling temperature ranges from ambient

must address lingering security risks, offer

to frozen. This facility is part of a broader

competitive incentives like land donations

push by carriers to build out dedicated

or tax offsets, and establish absolute legal,

pharmaceutical infrastructure as demand

regulatory, and volume certainty.

for temperature-controlled distribution keeps rising. For a pharmaceutical sector where

That vulnerability shows up domestically as a

cold chain integrity and delivery visibility

logistics and visibility problem as much as a

determine whether a shipment arrives usable,

27

that kind of integrated logistics investment

year, predictable purchasing schedules

is a direct input into supply chain resilience,

across that public share of the market are

not a peripheral one.

what manufacturers say they need to justify new investment in local production, since a

Gabriel Obregón, Vice President of Operations

single-year tender cycle makes it difficult to

for Latin America, UPS, emphasizes that

commit capital to domestic API or finished-

Mexico’s air connectivity positions the

dose manufacturing that only pays off over

country to serve as a strategic regional

a longer horizon.

supplier and exporter of medicines and APIs across Latin America and beyond, even

For the industry, sovereignty does not

reaching markets like Asia within two days.

necessarily mean replacing every imported

He notes that real-time visibility across cold-

input with a domestic one. It can also mean

chain logistics ensures these temperature-

building enough local capacity, procurement

sensitive shipments reach patients without

predictability, and shared visibility across

breakdown.

public and private supply chains that a disruption originating abroad no longer

Public procurement is the lever most within

determines whether a Mexican patient

Mexico’s own control. Government purchases

gets their medicine on time. Balancing that

account for roughly 27% of the value of

capacity against continued global sourcing,

Mexico’s pharmaceutical market, and the

while making Mexico attractive enough to

industry already generates close to 74,000

draw new pharmaceutical manufacturing

direct jobs and more than 310,000 indirect

investment, is the real test of whether

ones, touching 161 of the 259 branches that

resilience becomes sovereignty, or stays

make up the country’s economic input-

a permanent exercise in managing the

output matrix, according to KPMG. Multi-

next shortage.

THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS: RESHAPING PRIVATE INSURANCE, ALLIANCES Mexico’s healthcare sector is facing an

than 4.5 million individuals carry individual

affordability crisis driven by high out-of-

policies. “In Mexico, accessing healthcare

pocket expenses and private insurance penetration below 10%. Solving the gap requires shifting from fee-for-service models toward AI-enabled risk management, preventive care, and aligned public-private incentives to ensure long-term system sustainability, say experts.

Mexican

households

shoulder

a

disproportionate share of national health spending. Out-of-pocket expenses in Mexico remain more than double the OECD average, accounting for 29%–39% of total health expenditure and rising 41.4% between 2018–2024. In 2024, over 1 million families suffered catastrophic healthcare expenses, underscoring a severe protection gap across the country.

Private health insurance covers only around 10% of the Mexican population, while fewer

28

services depends largely on the patient’s capacity to pay,” says Carla Calderón, Head of

Leveraging AI and Data to Align System Incentives

Healthcare and Life Sciences, Baker McKenzie Abogados México, forcing industry leaders to

Technological innovations are accelerating

evaluate new financing structures.

risk pricing and care delivery. Enrique Enrriquez, Vice President of and AI, Sofía,

Addressing the affordability crisis requires

highlights that 80% of their small and medium

restructuring how healthcare quality and risk

enterprise clients had never provided private

are evaluated. Carlos Arellano, CEO, TecSalud,

health insurance before. Because insurance

explains that fee-for-service models fail to

is traditionally tied to formal employment,

reward positive patient outcomes or clinical

coverage remains inaccessible to over half

efficiency. “The most important requirement

of Mexico’s labor force.

to achieve accessibility is moving from a

To address this gap, Sofía uses AI trained on

cost conversation to a demonstrated value

standardized electronic health records to

conversation for patients and insurers,” says

detect health risks early and assist clinicians

Arellano. He notes that limited adoption of

during consultations. “AI solutions that keep

electronic medical records across private

a doctor in the loop act as a super-power that

hospitals continues to hinder data-driven

completely changes the patient experience,”

quality assessments.

says Enrriquez.

Systemic fragmentation also drives patient

Financing innovation is also expanding

care toward high-cost tertiary care hospitals

distribution channels. Mexico’s embedded

rather than primary prevention. Diego Diaz,

finance market, which includes insurance sold

General Director, Grupo San Ángel Inn,

through non-insurance digital platforms, is

stresses that 60% of Mexicans seek initial

projected to grow from US$17.00 billion in

care at pharmacy-adjacent clinics, leaving

2024 to roughly US$22.88 billion by 2030.

the broader system disarticulated.

Jean-Louis Brunet, Founder and CEO, Mutuus, “If we are in the illness business, we are in

explains that digital platforms allow insurers

the immediacy business, and everything will

to transition from passive claim processing to

cost what it has to cost,” says Diaz. Aligning

active health management. “The model that

medical providers, insurers, and patients

becomes the most efficient and truly resolves

around preventive care is essential to contain

the root problem will align the incentives of

escalating medical inflation, he adds.

all health players,” says Brunet. He adds that 95% of member health issues managed early

29

through technology are successfully resolved

“We must measure the system not by how

outside hospital settings.

much illness costs us, but by how much it costs us to generate health,” says Alonso y

Building Sustainable Financing and Preventive Alliances

Caloca. Shared industry data standards and wellness incentives would allow insurers to offer lower premiums to proactive

Long-term sustainability requires shifting the

policyholders, he adds.

industry’s focus toward continuous wellness and predictive risk models. Salvador Alonso

Public-private partnerships and scalable

y Caloca, Director General, Seguros Banorte,

coverage options are increasingly crucial

points out that traditional actuarial valuations

as medical inflation rises between 10%–

focus heavily on catastrophe costs rather

15% annually. Integrating preventive care,

than health preservation.

transparent health data, and flexible insurance products will determine whether Mexico can close its health protection gap.

THE FUTURE STARTS NOW: WHAT HEALTHCARE LEADERS MUST DO NEXT Persistent structural gaps threaten Mexico’s

resource allocation to specialist shortages

healthcare system. These include insufficient

and uneven access between urban and

resource allocation, specialist shortages,

rural areas.

and uneven urban-rural access, alongside the growing burden of metabolic disease.

During the event, Valle pointed to the rising

However, new treatments and technologies

burden of metabolic disease as a growing pressure point for the system, reinforcing the need for stronger prevention strategies across the sector. These challenges are not isolated obstacles but as interconnected pressures that will define the next phase of healthcare delivery in Mexico, he added.

Closing spending and access gaps cannot happen through infrastructure investment alone, and that talent development, prevention strategy, and technology adoption must move in tandem for the system to keep pace with the country’s evolving health needs, said Valle. This framing positions the coming years as a pivotal window for both public institutions and private industry to translate summit discussions into coordinated action.

could open the door to increasing access to

Looking ahead, Valle identifies GLP-1

healthcare services, says FunSalud.

therapies as one of the most consequential developments likely to reshape multiple

Mexico’s healthcare system continues to face

industries, from pharmaceuticals and

structural spending gaps relative to other

diagnostics to fitness and wellness. He says

economies, said Hector Valle, President,

the companies best positioned to benefit will

FunSalud, during Mexico Health Summit

be those that combine a strong molecule,

2026. He also urged healthcare leaders to act

solid clinical evidence, broad patient access,

on long-standing structural weaknesses, from

and a well-designed patient experience.

30

31

32

33

www.mexicobusiness.mx