The first country in the world to provide medicine completely free of charge to its people

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the project named “National Super Pharmaceutical Warehouse for People’s Health” covering an area of 50 hectares in the central city of Huehuetoca, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador emphasized that this is a historic moment because from now on, all Mexicans will be able to get medicine completely free of charge in the fastest time, according to a VNA correspondent in Mexico.

The Mexican government provides free medicine to its people.

Affirming that this is a project that makes Mexico the first and only country in the world capable of providing medicine completely free of charge and in a timely manner to all citizens, President Obrador said that the birth of the "National Super Pharmaceutical Warehouse for the Health of the People" demonstrates Mexico's superior social security policy in an effort to ensure that no one falls into a situation where they do not have medicine to treat their illness. Like food and water, medicine is on the list of essential goods that cannot be lacking.

Therefore, providing free pharmaceuticals not only ensures the current health of the people but also ensures the healthy development of future generations.

Regarding the types of drugs provided, Mexican Health Minister Jorge Alcocer said that in 2024, the government will spend 219 billion pesos (equivalent to 13.6 billion USD) to buy 1,806 different types of drugs, many of which are imported from countries with famous pharmaceutical industries such as the US, Germany, and France.

According to Mr. Alcocer, most of the logistics work at the National Pharmaceutical Distribution Center will be handled by the Mexican Biochemical Laboratory (Birmex), a government agency.

The transportation of drugs to the Center and distribution to patients will be carried out by the Mexican Ministry of Defense (SEDENA) to ensure timeliness and security.

The National Pharmaceutical Distribution Center of Mexico is located in the city of Huehuetoca, 60 km north of Mexico City. The center is close to many major airports as well as to major highways that directly connect to many localities across the country, thereby making the transportation of medicines more convenient, faster and easier.

The Mexican Ministry of Health said that to receive the right medicine, people need a doctor's prescription and call the National Pharmaceutical Distribution Center to order the medicine.

The delivery of medicine to the patient will be done within 48 hours from the time the Center confirms the information with the medical facility where the patient visited.

Mexico offers free medical care to many public hospitals and health facilities, even to those without health insurance. There are 4,500 hospitals in the country of 130 million people, of which 33% are public and 67% are privately owned and operated.

(Source: Tin Tuc Newspaper)

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