92% of medicines sold in Mexico are generic

Of the total medicines sold in Mexico, 92.6 percent are generic, which is relevant since their production allows Mexicans to have medical treatment at affordable prices, said Tatiana Clouthier, head of the Ministry of Economy.

“According to information from Lnefam, in Mexico, the annual consumption of medicines amounts to approximately 4.8 billion pieces, of which 7.4 percent are patent or single-source drugs, and 92.6 percent are generic, that is, Of the total number of medicines marketed in our country, between 80 and 90 percent are generic.

“The production of generic drugs in our country is extremely relevant since this type of product makes it possible for most Mexican families to have access to treatment at affordable prices,” said Tatiana Clouthier, head of the Ministry of Economy.

When inaugurating the Annual Convention of the National Association of Generic Drug Distributors and Laboratories (DILAMEG), which took place in Cancun, Quintana Roo, from August 24 to 27, the official highlighted that the federal government conceives the health sector as essential for the development and growth of society.

“In the current Administration, we conceive the health sector as essential for the development and growth of our society, always seeking, in a permanent way, to provide what is necessary to achieve the health of its inhabitants; the pharmaceutical industry plays an important role in our national economy,” Clouthier said in a virtual message.

In his opening speech, Santiago Bojalil, president of Dilameg, highlighted that this body, made up of 25 laboratories and 15 distributors -all Mexicans- is an ally of the patient who, for various reasons, does not have social security since its members reach more than 34 thousand points of sale throughout the country.

“Today, more than ever, let’s continue investing, developing, proposing, and growing as the national industry that characterizes us. Our Mexican economy needs us. For your health, generics, and economy, too,” Bojalil said.

In his participation, Patrick Devlyn, president of the Health Commission of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) – who attended on behalf of Francisco Cervantes, president of this organization – endorsed the commitment of the highest business leadership to work with Dilameg to achieve dialogue with authorities from the Ministry of Health, Economy, COFEPRIS, IMSS, and INSABI.

“The foregoing to have a regulatory framework that facilitates the innovation and development of generic drugs, and expand their penetration in public and private sector acquisitions, to reduce patient spending,” Devlyn mentioned.