Overview

• INEGI data show 44.5 million people, or 34.2% of the population, lacked access to health services in 2024.
• Household out-of-pocket health spending rose 41% from 2018 to 2024 to 1,605 pesos per quarter, while medicine spending jumped 116% to 480 pesos and now accounts for 30% of health costs.
• México Evalúa links the medicine shortfall to the 2019 centralization of public purchases and recommends restoring reliable supply, a universal basic benefits package, and stronger oversight.
• PRI Senate leader Manuel Añorve calls the situation a crisis, citing a loss of 31.6 million people with coverage between 2019 and 2022 and urging immediate policy changes.
• Out-of-pocket costs rose 7.9% in real terms between 2022 and 2024 even for IMSS and ISSSTE affiliates to an annual 6,421 pesos per household, and 16 million people self-medicated in 2024.