SHORTAGE AND AVAILABILITY OF MEDICINE IN MEXICO IS DIRE

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  Source: El Diario de Matamoros

  
  

Mexico continues to struggle with a serious shortage of medicines and medical supplies, a crisis that has put thousands of lives at risk and sparked deep concern across the country. The issue, widely believed to be the result of poor public policy and government mismanagement, is having a devastating effect on public health, particularly for people with chronic illnesses who rely on timely access to treatment.

Despite efforts by President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration to improve the supply of medicines in hospitals and clinics at all levels, federal, state, and municipal, the problem has yet to be resolved. Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, social workers, and ambulance staff, continue to report a widespread lack of basic medications, surgical tools, and medical supplies. This shortage has made it nearly impossible for many patients to receive adequate care.

The consequences are dire. Many people suffering from conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, anemia, obesity, and respiratory infections have died without receiving the treatment they needed. These diseases, which affect people of all ages, from infants to the elderly, are claiming lives that might have been saved with proper care.

Official statistics paint a grim picture. During the previous six-year term, more than 20% of patients reportedly died while waiting for medical or surgical care from the government. While Sheinbaum has made efforts over the past 11 months to fix the situation, the backlog remains enormous, and critics say there’s still no real solution in sight.

The crisis has also raised concerns about violence against healthcare workers. Several doctors have been killed in different parts of the country. While not all of these murders are directly linked to the medicine shortage, some appear to be. In other cases, the attacks may be related to general insecurity in certain regions. Still, some families have accused doctors of being responsible for patient deaths, adding to public mistrust and making the medical profession even more dangerous.