The Mexican government on Tuesday launched “Rutas de la Salud,” a nationwide logistics programme that aims to guarantee the monthly supply of medicines and medical supplies to more than 8,000 IMSS-Bienestar primary-care units. The model replaces piecemeal shipping with pre-packed kits that each contain 1,900 pieces covering 147 essential drugs, including treatments for hypertension and diabetes. IMSS-Bienestar Director General Alejandro Svarch Pérez said 1,006 distribution routes will deliver about 15 million items between 19 and 23 August, calling the scheme the institution’s most significant step to end chronic shortages. Authorities also outlined parallel investments in public health infrastructure. ISSSTE announced plans for a new regional hospital in Oaxaca, a family-medicine clinic in Díaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas, and the demolition and replacement of the obsolete Dr. Gonzalo Castañeda hospital in Mexico City’s Tlatelolco district. Separately, IMSS-Bienestar reported that its “Laboratorio en tu Clínica” service now operates in 576 facilities in the State of Mexico, processing 3,200 tests a day for about 41,900 patients. The diagnostic programme will expand later this month to Mexico City, Tlaxcala, Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur.