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Meeting highlights:
- 2025 Priorities: Ensuring patient access to Medtronic's services remains a top priority. 2025 will mark significant investments in technology to optimize resource use for smarter and more efficient healthcare delivery.
- Strategic Approach to Access: Balancing access between public and private healthcare segments by leveraging the right technology and streamlined processes. Emphasizing flexibility and adaptability to meet new regulatory and operational frameworks while maintaining high-quality services.
- Key Milestone 2024: Introduction of the latest insulin pump technology.
- Increasing Importance of Data in Healthcare: Leveraging information to drive better, more informed decisions. AI and data technology are increasingly integral to healthcare, complementing traditional medical practices.
- Investment in the Industry: The inclusion of "medical devices" as a formal term in Mexican law marks a pivotal step toward strengthening the healthcare ecosystem. This advancement is expected to foster innovation, elevate the industry's impact, and position Mexico's medical device sector for competitive growth, following the example of the country's automotive and aeronautics industries.
- Celebrating Medtronic's Legacy and Héctor’s 10 years of personal commitment to the company. A shared pride in delivering real solutions that improve patient lives.
EF: What are your top priorities for the year ahead? What trends do you think will drive growth in 2025?
HO: Due to the changes in the political landscape, we are currently in the middle of budgeting processes. Given these restrictions, we will need to wait for final decisions to understand exactly where healthcare funding stands. However, patients continue to need services and attention, and we remain committed to supporting them as we always have.
I see a growing trend of government collaboration with manufacturing companies, while on the private side, there is a clear shift toward investing in technology. The private sector is increasingly exploring how technology can enhance the ability to serve a growing patient base. These advancements highlight the importance of being reliable partners across the healthcare ecosystem, both public and private, and staying prepared to facilitate patient care.
As healthcare resources are not increasing significantly, we must find smarter ways to treat more patients with the same resources. Medtronic plays a critical role in partnering across the ecosystem to achieve our shared goal of improving patient lives by introducing innovative technologies that expand access and deliver treatments effectively.
The challenge is not just to double the number of lives we touch, but to do so strategically and resourcefully. In Mexico, our efforts remain focused on delivering the right technologies to ensure patients receive the care they need despite sector constraints.
EF: Could you elaborate further on your access strategy from both perspectives of partnerships and technology?
HO: We need to identify and implement the right technology for each segment, ensuring it meets patients’ specific needs. Optimizing processes will streamline the adoption of appropriate treatments.
The public sector, as the primary channel for healthcare in Mexico, will continue to manage high patient volumes. This requires adopting new technologies and training doctors to use them effectively to improve patient care. Simultaneously, we must adapt to changes in government infrastructure, learn new processes, and remain flexible as recent shifts shape future policies.
These adjustments, while costly, provide valuable insights and opportunities to anticipate future needs and proactively meet evolving demands in government healthcare. In the private sector, hospitals are increasingly segmented by economic levels, with distinct needs requiring tailored strategies. While some facilities offer cutting-edge technology, the disparity between segments is significant. It’s essential to ensure all patients receive safe, high-quality care, regardless of their access to advanced innovations, by aligning technologies with the realities of each segment’s infrastructure.
Addressing these differences is crucial. Patients in top-tier hospitals may benefit from advanced treatments, but those without access to such technologies still deserve proper care backed by product quality and traceability.
Ultimately, it’s about more than putting patients at the center. It’s about ensuring every patient receives the right technology to recover effectively and lead a productive life.
EF: How is Medtronic leveraging technologies like AI and machine learning to enhance operations, optimize efficiency, and improve performance?
HO: I am thrilled to share that after years of effort, the latest insulin pump technology has finally arrived in Mexico—a true game-changer powered by cutting-edge innovation.
Aligned with Medtronic’s vision, we see AI not as a replacement for doctors but as a complementary tool to enhance healthcare. This launch is a significant step in bringing tangible innovations to market.
Beyond insulin pumps, Medtronic is introducing breakthrough technologies like the PillCam and GI Genius, which revolutionize diagnostics. The GI Genius, for example, enhances colonoscopy procedures by helping doctors detect potential cancer issues in real time.
We’re also expanding our portfolio in Mexico, integrating robotics and AI to transform healthcare delivery.
Collaboration remains key—working with doctors, surgeons, academics, and medical associations to ensure these technologies are effectively implemented. Patients, too, are driving this shift, increasingly seeking advanced technologies and transforming healthcare conversations into dynamic partnerships.
A standout example of progress is the recent Medical Digital Report by Funsalud, highlighting local digital health innovations, including Mexico’s first AI-focused medical seminar. These advancements, developed locally, foster greater relevance and impact for our healthcare system.
Additionally, we have emphasized the importance of data sovereignty—ensuring that genomic and AI data remain securely managed within Mexico, without reliance on external control.
Over the past four years, Medtronic has worked to close the gap between pharma and MedTech, integrating clinical trial data with real-world evidence to gain deeper insights into healthcare outcomes.
As President of AMID, Mexico’s Medical Device Association, I’m especially proud of achieving legal recognition for "medical devices" in healthcare legislation. This milestone secures a seat at the table for critical conversations, legitimizing the unique role of our industry.
Having worked in this field for over 20 years, it’s deeply rewarding to see medical devices recognized alongside medicines and healthcare consumables. Leaders like Dr. Kershenobich and Secretary Clark already differentiate between these sectors, underscoring the impact of our work.
This progress validates years of effort and demonstrates the vital role medical devices play in reshaping healthcare.
EF: Why do you believe that investing a dollar in Mexico or Latin America today holds greater significance than investing it elsewhere?
HO: In the context of the medical device industry, Mexico stands out due to its proven strengths. We have demonstrated quality, robust infrastructure, and operational efficiency, establishing the country as a global leader in medical device exports—often leveraging our geographical proximity to the U.S.
Over the past 30-45 years, the industry has flourished despite political challenges, thanks to strategic decisions and long-term planning. Many companies have capitalized on these advantages, including the recent emphasis on nearshoring, which has further highlighted Mexico’s relevance.
Importantly, the previous administration recognized the medical device sector as a key pillar of economic development, and the Ministry of Economy has indicated that this focus will continue. With increasing visibility and support, the medical device industry in Mexico is well-positioned for sustained growth in the long term.
It is still too early to make any significant changes, as there is a lot of noise in the current environment, and immediate decisions may be influenced by short-term factors. Shifting the landscape takes time and a more stable context. For now, the focus should remain on emphasizing the strengths Mexico already possesses in medical device manufacturing, such as quality, efficiency, and infrastructure, which are driving its leadership in the sector.
EF: Mexico is often described as having all the ingredients to become a hub for Latin America. What additional steps or focus areas are needed to truly drive advancement and establish Mexico as a regional leader?
HO: The more I explore Mexico's manufacturing environment, the clearer its growth potential becomes. For instance, looking at California’s ecosystem highlights best practices we can adopt to strengthen our own.
A critical area for Mexico is expanding its medical device ecosystem. Currently, much of the raw material is imported temporarily, with limited local processing before final products are exported. Strengthening the local supply chain—similar to what we’ve seen in the aerospace and automotive industries—could significantly enhance this ecosystem.
Take the automotive sector as an example: Mexico has become a global leader, seamlessly integrating manufacturing with the U.S. The scale and global rankings in car and truck production demonstrate the potential for the medical device industry to achieve similar recognition.
While we’re already competitive in medical device rankings and host major companies with large employee bases, there’s room to grow the industry’s scale and impact. By focusing on local innovation and supply chain integration, Mexico can fully leverage its strengths—talent, infrastructure, and expertise—to solidify its position as a manufacturing hub.
Innovation is key, and there’s a shared aspiration—especially within the government—to foster technology development in Mexico. To stay competitive, we need to not only innovate but also embrace the reality of global, multi-center collaboration in technology development.
The question is: how can Mexico position itself as a vital contributor to this global model, focusing on specific aspects of cutting-edge technologies? This vision extends beyond Medtronic—it’s about Mexico’s broader role in the global medical and technological innovation ecosystem.
EF: What accomplishments are you most proud of as you mark another year with Medtronic?
HO: Medtronic celebrated 51 years in Mexico last year—a remarkable milestone that I was honored to represent. This legacy is a significant advantage when engaging with government officials or other key stakeholders. Representing a company with such a longstanding history in the country is a privilege and an opportunity that doesn't come along often.
Personally, I couldn’t be prouder to have spent over 20 years in an industry where every decision I make has the potential to improve lives. Being part of a global leader in technology comes with immense responsibility, but it’s also deeply rewarding.
Recently, we celebrated our holiday program, which focuses on patient testimonials. Though it’s an internal event, it’s easily the most meaningful celebration we have, as it reminds us of the impressive scope of our work and the difference it makes. Moments like these bring everything into perspective and remind us of what truly matters.
