If we have emphasized something in this space, it is the terrible management of the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, one button is enough: minimizing the health contingency from the presidential gallery, with the recommendation to continue going out because nothing was happening; rejecting the use of face masks, because it was not useful for this type of situation; and sarcastically promoting the use of saints’ cards to scare away the virus, among other actions that, in addition to being irresponsible, border on criminal.
As we know, Mexico is among the countries with the highest number of deaths among its population due to the new coronavirus, in addition, we were also one of the main countries with the highest number of deaths in health personnel from Covid-19, with 4,843 registered deaths, which It is the highest figure recorded on the American continent.
How many lives could have been saved with more responsible actions and a more effective response by the authorities? Recently, an independent report has shed light on this issue, revealing a panorama that cries out for reflection and urgent action.
The Independent Commission of Investigation into the Covid-19 pandemic in Mexico, headed by Jaime Sepúlveda, presented to the media an analysis that calls into question the official figures of deaths related to the virus. The most shocking thing about this report is that it indicates that around 300,000 of the excess deaths could have been avoided with more effective management by the government. Such deaths were not simply an inevitable result of the public health crisis, but were exacerbated by political decisions and a poor response.
The report highlights a number of factors that contributed to this devastating scenario. First of all, an unfortunate combination of “structural disadvantages” stands out that left our country in a vulnerable situation in the face of the health crisis.
These social inequalities and institutional weaknesses were undoubtedly aggravated by erroneous government decisions that not only failed to contain the spread of the virus, but intensified it.
One of the key points of the report is the concept of “excess mortality”, which covers not only deaths directly attributable to the new coronavirus, but also those caused by the interruption of regular health services and other secondary effects of the emergency.
We had already mentioned the number a long time ago in this same column and this report confirms it: in Mexico there were 808 thousand excess deaths from all causes, so our country faces a reality that far exceeds the official estimates and the calculations of the World Health Organization (WHO). The above means that 6.4 of every 1,000 Mexicans died from the Covid-19 pandemic, directly or indirectly.
The report of this commission also criticizes the lack of an adequate government response and the absence of an official investigation commission to evaluate the management of the pandemic, headed by Hugo López-Gatell, who also dismissed the intervention of epidemiologists, scientists and even , to the same General Health Council (CGS), which must have been very active and at the center during the entire health crisis.
On the other hand, while other nations took steps to document mistakes and learn from them, in Mexico, this opportunity was lost, leaving a significant gap in accountability and the possibility of improving future policies.
The management of the pandemic in Mexico has been the subject of widespread criticism from the scientific community and the opposition. However, from the lack of early recognition of the importance of wearing masks to the delay in vaccinating health personnel, erratic and late decisions had devastating consequences. In addition to this, the reorganization of the health system in the midst of the crisis only served to further complicate the response.
We must also not forget that the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in the midst of a self-induced crisis of drug shortages, which has not been resolved to date, despite the multiple attempts of this administration of the so-called 4T.
We do not need to be Denmark, because we know that will not happen, but we do need an urgent change of direction. The tragedy of the 300 thousand lives lost that could have been saved is a tremendous reminder of the responsibility that falls on our authorities, from the President of the Republic to the so-called “pandemic czar”, López-Gatell.
The first thing we must keep in our collective memory is that inaction or omission has an irreparable human cost. Also, we know that it will not happen, but it is time for this Q4 government to assume its responsibility in the face of these events, listen to constructive criticism and take concrete measures to protect its population in future public health emergencies. The price of negligence has already been too high to remain as the government remained during the pandemic, in total inaction.
INCIDE promotes ventures to innovate in health
After a four-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Translational Medicine and Innovation Research Fair (Fenimeti) returns thanks to the efforts of the INCIDE Foundation. This entity, made up of a group of Mexican pharmaceutical companies, aims to identify technological developments with an impact on health and bring them closer to private venture capital.
In line with its commitment to promoting science, technology and innovation in the health sector, INCIDE Foundation has launched the INCIDE Pharma & Health Tech Booster program. This program, together with a Demo Day before venture capital funds, seeks to finance the maturation of health technologies in early stages and bring them closer to the market.
The 4th edition of Fenimeti will be the setting to launch this program, which focuses on the integration of a portfolio of innovation projects in the health sector. The idea is to provide spaces for the exchange of scientific and technological experiences that allow the development of new knowledge, products and services to promote the development of the health sector for the benefit of the population.
In addition, the INCIDE Pharma & Health Tech Booster program, in collaboration with the Chilean consulting firm New Genesis, an expert in innovation and technology transfer, will select up to eight participants. These ventures will have the opportunity to validate their inventions and turn them into products or services of interest to the relevant target market.
Selected participants will have various benefits, including interacting with the business ecosystem of the companies that make up the INCIDE Foundation, participating in a capacity strengthening and development program, as well as accessing financing for administrative and logistical expenses.
The call to participate in the program will be open from April 25, 2024, with the deadline for receiving participants on June 10, 2024. The notification of results will take place on June 19 of this year.
INCIDE Foundation, established in 2013 by companies committed to technological development and innovation, has the mission of promoting competitiveness and the generation of value in Mexican companies through innovation. This group of pharmaceutical firms (Carnot Laboratories, Silanes, Chinoin, Ifa Celtics, Medix, Neolpharma, Sanfer and Probiomed) has the mission of promoting competitiveness and generating value in Mexican companies through innovation.
Among its associates, they accumulate investments in Research and Development (R&D) for more than 1,048 million dollars, they have a presence in more than 40 countries and have 61 plants certified by Cofepris and international agencies.
Emergency Room
After the discovery and complaint by Ceci Flores, a mother searching for missing children, of a possible clandestine crematorium in the Iztapalapa mayor’s office in Mexico City, it now turns out that she is part of “the conservative bloc.” Do me a favor… After this news, which spread like wildfire, the capital’s prosecutor’s office, headed by the controversial Ulises Lara, carried out an express investigation in a couple of hours to close the matter. Don’t believe that because The elections are coming and this matter is in the middle of names like Clara Brugada and Claudia Sheinbaum…
