Mexico Ministry of Health issues new sterile medication guidelines

Mexico’s Ministry of Health has acknowledged a regulatory gap regarding the minimum standards for preparing sterile medications and dispensing unit doses in hospitals. This admission follows investigations into newborn deaths in intensive care units in Durango and Jalisco.

To address these deficiencies, the Ministry has issued new guidelines to unify procedures for the planning, purchase, distribution, prescription, and monitoring of medicines. The new framework covers five key areas: sanitary regulation, medical care standards, pharmacovigilance and technovigilance, optimal use of supplies, and pharmacy and therapeutic committees.

The Ministry also identified several systemic issues, including insufficient hiring of specialists, a lack of operational recognition for hospital pharmacists, and deficiencies in infrastructure and human resources. The new measures aim to reinforce the reporting of adverse reactions and medication errors, while implementing verification mechanisms for high-risk drugs.