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EF: What are FUNSALUD’s top priorities for 2024 to enhance Mexico’s healthcare system?
HV: Every six years, FUNSALUD develops a proposal for the new government. Currently, a group of experts conforming 14 roundtables will convey a document to be presented to the newly elected president. This proposal will be shared with the next President and next Minister of Health, opening the discussion of expectations for the future of healthcare.
We are also preparing a proposal for 2024 to 2030, developed by young leaders under the age of 35. This way, we will be able to incorporate both expert and youthful perspectives into our vision. It has taken a significant amount of work to prepare and involved an elaborate selection process. The people chosen for the young vision come from across the nation and from various backgrounds, bringing together attorneys, physicians, industrial engineers, economists, and representatives from marketing, finance, or accounting. They work together to gain a better understanding of the system and how it functions. During that process, we have high-ranking individuals such as past ministers of health providing them with lectures and lessons, and even former directors of IMSS helping them on this journey as they elaborate their recommendations for the new authorities.
Besides the involvement in the upcoming elections, FUNSALUD keeps working on developing healthcare programs at different state levels. We are currently present in six states and are seeking to expand to six others soon, including regions like Aguascalientes, Baja California Sur, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Durango and Tlaxcala.
Regarding regulatory matters, our Council of New Technologies is advising the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies in the debate on the legalization of digital health and the use of AI in healthcare. Meanwhile, we are also drafting a legal proposal for the work in genomics.
Another important topic for us is encouraging the growth of regulated midwifery to support the existence of midwives within the communities and ensure their training. Midwives are extremely important on a national level and play a vital role in communities, particularly in rural and remote areas where doctors lack.
We continue to work on Code Cancer, a project that aims to reduce treatment access times after a cancer diagnosis. We are building a platform that will enable cancer patients to quickly get access to physicians, nurses, infrastructure, medical devices, and life-saving treatment, and we hope to conduct a pilot in the next few months, together with INCAN and IMSS.
On an international scale, we are successfully representing two global groups locally. One of them is All.Can, an international cancer aid organization for which we are the local secretariat. The other one is the Transform Global Health initiative focused on digital health.
In our other activities, we continue to establish the ranking of the top private hospitals in Mexico. For the past four years, we have published the list of top hospitals in Mexico using a solid methodology. We continue to observe the commitment of the hospitals to improve and be better, showing the population the guarantee of high-quality services in the private sector.
Regarding the educational sector, Mexico only has only a few university hospitals at the state level. To improve this situation, we are launching a new council of university hospitals, bringing them all together to exchange good practices. We also want to promote the movement of students outside of the country to enhance their personal development while bringing back research and new technologies to the country.
We are also building support programs with several universities in the country. For example, we are working with the University of Querétaro on a project about attendance and absenteeism. This project aims to determine the effects of people attending work when ill, analyzing the impact on that person and the other people in the environment. With the University of Yucatan, we are building a platform for Dengue to improve communication and track vaccinations to ensure access.
A very concerning issue to us is the country’s access to high-cost treatments for complex diseases. This is an intricate matter involving the entire process, from diagnosis to having capable physicians administering the correct treatment. We are currently developing a proposal, and there is already a first draft that Harvard PhD students are reviewing and discussing. We anticipate their valuable contributions and plan to benchmark our ideas against other countries' approaches. The proposal is not just a product of academic input; there is a collaboration with experts from the Ministry of Health and the Treasury, ensuring a high-caliber perspective. This initiative focuses on finding the right solution and securing the necessary resources for its implementation. We are determined to deliver a comprehensive proposal in the upcoming months.
EF: How can we build a virtuous innovation cycle in Mexico and attract more investment to create structures for healthcare sustainability?
HV: I am involved in an investment fund called XP Ventures, whose purpose is to advance new technologies. We focus on healthcare and innovative medical technologies in the US, Europe, Asia, and Israel. Especially in Israel, we invest in cybersecurity, food technology, and healthcare, all of which are important since food technology will be needed to sustain life on Earth in the future.
Based on this experience, we will be launching an investment fund concentrated on developing healthcare entrepreneurship in LATAM. The upcoming years will be crucial for us, as we have seen some regional hubs growing wonderfully. It is an excellent moment for us to assist in closing the access gap.
EF: How is FUNSALUD attracting younger generations and raising awareness of the importance of the fields of science and medicine?
HV: Encouraging people to pursue medical studies is just one goal; the other is to ensure that they are headed in the proper direction. Mexico faces a physician shortage, particularly in the specializations we require. We have far too many paediatricians yet not enough endocrinologists, which is a major problem for the nation.
Mexico has less than 900 endocrinologists, but 40% percent of Mexico's 131 million people have diabetes or pre-diabetes. The situation is similar if we look at oncology and cardiology. Other countries like Argentina have enough psychiatrists, but Mexico does not because it is frowned upon for Mexicans to openly discuss visiting psychologists or psychiatrists. However, post-COVID, we are seeing a growing demand for mental health.
Mexico has a skills shortage, especially in the nursing field, with a lot of our talent being taken by our northern neighbors and European countries. The German health minister has visited Mexico to personally encourage our nurses to come to Europe. This is causing a major brain drain and creating an unprecedented challenge.
EF: How do you see the field of AI and digital solutions in health evolving in the future?
HV: It is crucial to quickly adopt new technologies to bridge the healthcare access gap. Regulatory efforts should prioritize the integration of digital solutions. Moreover, collaboration with medical schools is key to ensuring graduates, including physicians and nurses, are proficient in using the latest tools. I have engaged with school deans on topics like genomics, recognizing extensive training needed to overcome resistance. Our focus is on incorporating new technologies into medical education on all levels, ensuring future healthcare professionals are well-prepared.
In terms of AI, we are dealing with a global challenge of applying it correctly in healthcare and supporting healthcare workers comprehensively. The fast-paced progress in diagnostic technologies presents fantastic opportunities. However, if not used and understood properly, there is a risk that developed countries might gain all the benefits, leaving those in LATAM, Africa, and Asia behind. This could worsen the access gap, emphasizing the need for broad education and implementation.
EF: What are the main priorities or main policies that should be considered by the new government when it comes to improving the Mexican healthcare system?
HV: Prioritizing access is key. A Health Minister must recognize that sometimes the policy diverges from the reality of how people use the healthcare system. Understanding these dynamics, particularly how individuals navigate the system daily, is crucial. Addressing nationwide inequalities is essential. Instead of focusing solely on legislation, we must concentrate on the day-to-day practices of patients seeking healthcare.
Now is an opportune moment to leverage new technologies to narrow the access gap. This requires ensuring proper internet connectivity, sufficient bandwidth, and comprehensive training. Investing in specific medical specialties and supporting physicians' advocacy for fair compensation is vital. Labor law perspectives need attention to better support healthcare professionals.
Creating a healthcare system that works involves having content and satisfied professionals, robust infrastructure implemented technology, and an understanding of patient navigation. This comprehensive approach will contribute to a more effective healthcare system for Mexicans.
EF: What question should we ask every executive to get a framework for the Mexican healthcare system in 2024?
HV: “If today you were the Minister of Health, where would you start?” Different sectors have different concerns - some expressing dissatisfaction and others pointing out unresolved issues within the system. The ongoing talk about how Mexico handled the pandemic adds to the complexity. If you were to step into the shoes of the Minister of Health in 2024, knowing where to start is extremely complex. Healthcare is complex and needs careful thought, consideration, and strategy. So, how would you tackle this difficult challenge?
