- It is estimated that during 2021 alone, 24 million prescriptions were not filled throughout the country.
- The IMSS is the most affected institution within the public sector.
- Although the authorities have promised to solve the drug shortage, so far no improvement has been observed.
Health in our country faces several problems, but there is a very serious one that affects the majority of the population. Its about drug shortage which is increasing and despite the promises there are no signs of improvement. In fact, it keeps getting bigger.
The lack of effective access to medicines, medical supplies and vaccines is a problem that has worsened in recent years. For the same, the Zero Shortage Collectivepowered by Nosotrxs, created a map to prove it.
The magnitude of the current problem
According to public data, In 2021 alone, a little more than 24 million medical prescriptions were not effectively filled in the following subsystems of the National Health System: IMSS, ISSSTE, PEMEX, SEDENA, SEMAR. This shortage represents a clear violation of people’s right to health.
On June 9, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador mentioned that the supply had been guaranteed by 90% and promised that the remaining 10% would be guaranteed within a year. Although despite the promise, several people point out that the problem persists.
During the first quarter of 2022, the IMSS has denied more prescriptions than all the ones it denied in 2019. Likewise, according to data from INDICAS, the population without social security that receives care in units of the Ministry of Health (SSA), IMSS-Well-being or INSABI continues to be the most affected and the percentage of medication supply in first level units it has a downward trend.
On the one hand, the rural units of the SSA in the third quarter of 2021 had 80% supply and in the first quarter of 2022 it fell to 73%. And on the other hand, at the beginning of 2021 the IMSS-Wellness had a 74% supply and in the first quarter of 2022 it fell to 71%, the lowest in the last 6 years.
Current situation
In both cases, in 2022, more than 25% of the demand for medicines has not been effectively supplied, and the population in the most vulnerable situation has had effects not only on their health but also on their pocketbook. The shortage was also exacerbated in INSABI, according to data from the institution itself, in 2021 only 66% of users reported a complete supply of their prescriptions.
The data shows that the right to health of all people and especially of the population without social security, is still not guaranteed. Therefore, the problem of drug shortages remains unaddressed.
For now, the Colectivo Cero Deabasto, promoted by Nosotrxs, updated its platform to issue complaints and made the following changes.
1. Open data: reports can now be consulted in real time, through a dynamic dashboard that allows viewing and downloading data depending on the variables that are of interest to you.
2. State Representations: contact details of the representations are included to be able to join their entities in order to do local advocacy.
3. Materials: materials can be downloaded – audiovisual, for social networks and to print – to spread the campaigns and initiatives of the Collective.
4. New reports and press releases: the press releases and new reports prepared on more specialized topics will be included.