**2025 Kicks Off With Under 15% Supply at Issstecali Pharmacies: Guillermo Aldrete**
The start of 2025 has seen less than 15% medical supply availability at the pharmacies affiliated with the Institute of Social Security and Services for State Workers (Issstecali) in Baja California. This troubling statistic was revealed by the General Secretary of the Bureaucrats Union, Guillermo Aldrete Casarín, who has been monitoring the situation closely.
On January 7th, Aldrete and his State Steering Committee inspected medical units across Baja California. They found that none of the pharmacies had even reached 15% of their usual stock of medicines. This shortage coincided with a season marked by an increase in flu cases, leaving many without access to necessary medications for treating common colds and other respiratory ailments.
The deficiency in supply also affected more severe medical needs. Scheduled surgeries and cancer treatments had to be postponed, exacerbating the impact of the shortage. Aldrete has urged the director of the Institute, Dagoberto Valdés, to address these deficits urgently. Despite Issstecali investing 60 million pesos in medicines, these resources were not filtering through to the medical units.
However, a visit to Issstecali’s Central Warehouse in Mexicali on January 8th indicated that new supplies had begun arriving. By utilizing institute vehicles and external courier services, distribution efforts were initiated, boosting the supply level to 55% by January 9th. Now, essential medicines, including insulin, hypertension treatments, and crucial chemotherapy drugs, are available again.
Aldrete assured members and beneficiaries that the personnel responsible for medicine distribution returned to work on January 15th. The expectation is that by the end of January, pharmacy stock levels should stabilize between 60 and 80%. This range is considered average due to the continuous flow of medicine as patients collect their prescriptions, meaning pharmacies rarely reach 100% stock.
—
**Supplementary Article**
**Healthcare Challenges: Growing Pressure on Public Health Systems**
The situation at Issstecali is not isolated, reflecting a broader challenge faced by public health systems globally. With increasing demands brought on by population growth, pandemics, and economic constraints, many state-run health services are struggling to maintain adequate supplies.
Recent reports have highlighted similar concerns in other regions. In Mexico City, the Secretariat of Health has been grappling with shortages of essential medications in public hospitals. In some cases, patients have been left waiting for weeks to receive vital treatments.
The issue extends beyond medication shortages. Overburdened healthcare facilities, staff shortages, and delayed medical procedures are common themes affecting patient care. Governments are being urged to prioritize healthcare investments, particularly in areas of supply chain efficiency and infrastructure improvements, to better prepare for future health crises.
Efforts to bridge these gaps have included collaborations with private sectors and the implementation of technology-driven solutions to enhance logistical operations. However, experts warn that without sustained investment and policy reform, the healthcare system’s capacity to deliver timely and effective care will continue to face significant hurdles.