Mexico's President Denies Propaganda Aim in Free Medicine Labeling

President Claudia Sheinbaum has dismissed claims that labeling free government-supplied medications with "This medicine is free and belongs to the health sector" is a form of propaganda. She explained that the inscription is intended to clearly identify the medicines as originating from the public health sector, funded by public resources, and distributed at no cost. The primary goal, she stated, is to prevent theft and the illicit resale of these vital medicines.

Sheinbaum highlighted that current packaging often features removable stickers. This allows individuals to detach the labels and resell the medications at inflated prices, profiting from public resources. To combat this, the new labeling will be permanently printed directly onto the packaging with a special seal. This measure aims to ensure that the medicines reach intended recipients and are not exploited for private gain.

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They started with a campaign by some that we wanted to do propaganda on the medicine packages. No, simply that it is known that they come from the health sector, that they were bought with public resources and that they are delivered free of charge and that no one makes a business out of it.

The President is collaborating with pharmaceutical companies to implement these packaging modifications. The Ministry of Health has previously stated that the new labeling is an administrative and control measure to protect public health supplies and prevent irregular practices like theft and illegal sales. The regulation specifies that the legends should be placed on a side panel of the packaging, not the front, to strengthen control and traceability mechanisms.

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They remove the sticker and sell them for who knows how much, when in reality they were bought by the government, well, they were bought by the Mexican State, by the people, with the people's money. And a private individual benefits.