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BETTER DIALOGUE NECESSARY TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO MEDICAL DEVICES ANA RIQUELME Executive Director of AMID
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Q: How does AMID contribute to the growth opportunities
exchange with decision-makers in the public sector is also
in the medical devices industry in Mexico?
necessary to understand the needs of authorities and the
A: The association was created 11 years ago to tackle the
sector. We are doing similar work with the Ministry of Finance,
regulatory challenges in Mexico. A significant moment was
pushing to create a differentiation between medication and
when Article 3.76 of Mexico’s Health Law was amended
medical devices in regulation. This differentiation may sound
to require all medical devices to submit for verification
simple, but it is necessary to ensure that mechanisms and
or approval every five years. Our association groups over
protocols for storage, distribution and commercialization are
8,000 entities with specific sanitary requirements, which
adjusted specifically for medical devices.
is quite a burden for sanitary authorities. The association was founded to create a dialogue with the authorities to
Q: How can the medical devices industry contribute to the
improve cooperation in this area. Now, we also work on
government’s austerity measures?
organizing consolidated purchases for medical devices.
A: We applaud the government’s austerity efforts and actions to combat corruption. At the same time, we believe
Q: What are the biggest challenges and opportunities for
Mexico has major challenges regarding chronic-degenerative
the sector in the near term?
diseases and disease transmission. However, we believe
A: The primary challenge for medical devices in Mexico is that
austerity does not have to be a barrier to achieving the
domestic consumption is much lower in comparison to other
required quality standards in products. Investment in medical
medical goods, such as medications. Low consumption means
technology could result in better attention to patients, better
not every patient has access to advanced technologies. Mexico
results in public health and a lower sanitary risk. We want
is the main exporter of medical devices in Latin American and
to be allies to the government to help them ease device
eighth worldwide. However, in domestic consumption we rank
purchases and to make the right choice of innovative
between 43 and 48 place. This means there is a big gap
products to ensure the well-being of the population.
rd
th
between the fast development of the medical devices industry in the country and actual access for the general population.
Q: What actions and strategies does AMID implement to
Since 2016, our agenda has focused on three main goals:
promote innovation?
reaching the highest international standards for medical
A: Since 2016, we have been running an education
devices, working with decision-makers in the industry to
campaign to promote the benefits of medical devices
adopt the latest technology and collaborating with authorities
for people’s health. Equally, we aim to generate dialogue
to help them with tenders for purchases of medical devices.
between industry decision-makers and health professionals who treat the Mexican population. Cooperation is a very
Q: What is needed to increase safety in medical equipment?
important theme and we help strengthen it with a rigorous
A: The first step is to improve cooperation between private
code of conduct based on international standards. This
companies to increase access to medical devices. AMID wants
ensures that clients use technology that satisfies their needs
to accomplish this by working with other associations and
and that end results lead to the maximum benefit for all.
entities to create a united front. We support the General Health Council’s efforts to improve dialogue. More information
Q: What are AMID’s three main goals for the next two years? A: Our primary goal is to accompany the government in its efforts to fight corruption and we are fully available to
The Mexican Association of Innovative Medical Devices
collaborate in this area. This year, we are preparing a training
Industries (AMID) gathers global leaders in innovation of
course for more than 300 distributors and intermediaries who
medical devices and diagnostic systems to work toward the
are members of the association. We want to orient them in
advancement of health services in Mexico
AMID’s new ethics code, which is based on fighting corruption.
