People’s Mañanera December 16

ByPedro Gellert

Every day, President Claudia Sheinbaum gives a morning presidential press conference and Mexico Solidarity Media posts English language summaries, translated by Mexico Solidarity’s Pedro Gellert Frank. Previous press conference summaries are available here.

IMSS-Bienestar: progress in pharmaceutical supply

The director of the IMSS-Bienestar well-being program, Alejandro Svarch Pérez, reported that the Health Routes have enabled the delivery of more than 115 million units of medicines, with thousands of healthcare centers and hospitals now supplied. Pharmaceutical supply is guaranteed throughout 2025 and 2026. President Claudia Sheinbaum was emphatic, declaring that companies that failed to deliver medicines will not receive contracts in the future.

Housing for Well-Being: lotteries with social priorities

Sheinbaum explained that Conavi housing is aimed at those without access to the Infonavit or FOVISSSTE government housing agencies and that since demand exceeds supply, allocation will be carried out through public lotteries in different states.

The National Housing Commission (Conavi) reported that 444 families applied for 139 homes; 20% will be allocated for rental to young people, and 66 homes will be assigned directly to senior citizens or people with disabilities. From Puebla, the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial, and Urban Development (SEDATU) noted that the target of 390,973 homes has already been reached and that more than 6,400 additional homes will be delivered in 2026.

Fentanyl: addressing the causes, not just the substance

Sheinbaum reported that Donald Trump’s executive decree and the legislative moves promoted in the United States regarding fentanyl are being analyzed. She stressed that Mexico’s approach is different, that the anti-drug strategy must focus on the social and health causes that give rise to consumption. She warned that if the root causes are not addressed, addiction can shift to any other drug.

Violence in the Mexico City Congress: dialogue must prevail

Regarding the violent incidents that took place yesterday in the capital’s Congress, the President stated that violence is not the way and that dialogue must always be prioritized. She recalled that when Morena was in the opposition, legislative protests were carried out without aggression and with respect.

Latin America and the advance of the far right

Referring to the victory of José Antonio Kast in Chile, Sheinbaum recalled that the country experienced one of the most atrocious periods of repression during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, led by the extreme right, which is now once again present on the political scene.

Influenza H3N2 alert and health protocols

Minister of Health David Kershenobich urged the population to get vaccinated in light of the global alert over H3N2 influenza. He indicated that only one case has been detected in Mexico, although it is rapidly spreading in the United States and Europe. He also announced the implementation of 10 national protocols to standardize care for chronic and acute illnesses.