The shortage of cancer medications in Jalisco has worsened in 2025, leaving nearly 1,200 patients in public hospitals without the necessary drugs to continue their treatments. Despite repeated promises from the federal government, only 13% of the cancer medications allocated to the state have been delivered so far this year, according to Jalisco’s Secretary of Health, Héctor Raúl Pérez Gómez.

“The number of drug codes and percentage of medication deliveries from the federal government have not stabilized,” he said. “These shortages affect cancer treatments for both children and adults.”

In response, the Jalisco government has allocated 200 million pesos to purchase medications and support nonprofit organizations that are stepping in to bridge the gap. Officials say more funds may be made available if the problem continues.

Patients Left Without Treatment

Lidia Martínez, a colon cancer patient from Tuxpan, shared her frustration after missing two chemotherapy sessions due to the shortage. “I’ve never had to fight like this. I came to Guadalajara for treatment, and there was nothing. We just came for nothing,” she said.

Karina Zaragoza, another cancer patient at the Jalisco Cancer Institute, faces the same challenges. “The medication is too expensive for me to buy on my own, and the hospital hasn’t had it for over a year,” she said, visibly distressed.

Both women have turned to the civil organization Nariz Roja (Red Nose) for help. Founded by activist Alejandro Barbosa, the group has been filling the gaps in cancer care—providing medications, medical equipment, and supplies when public institutions fall short.

Barbosa emphasized that delays in treatment, even by a week, can drastically reduce a patient’s chances of recovery. “Missing doses disrupts medical protocols and threatens outcomes,” he warned.

A Nationwide Crisis

The medicine shortage isn’t unique to Jalisco. The problem has persisted across the country since the dissolution of Seguro Popular and disruptions in federal procurement processes. The federal government promised that supplies would be regularized in July, but the month is nearly over and hospitals still face major gaps.

On July 15, Eduardo Clark, Federal Undersecretary for Health Integration and Development, claimed that 96% of the required medical supplies and 98% of oncology medications for the public health system had been acquired. Yet in Jalisco, patients are still waiting.

Barbosa called on the federal government to fulfill its obligation and on the state to develop a contingency plan in case it doesn’t. “Before, we had a Plan B. Today, we don’t,” he said. He also called for transparency about which medications are the responsibility of the federal government and which fall to the state.

Systemic Failures and Delayed Procurement

The crisis stems in part from delays and irregularities in the national procurement process. The company Birmex, responsible for centralized purchasing, postponed decisions on key medicine contracts, while investigations revealed that 175 drug codes were awarded at inflated prices totaling nearly 13 billion pesos.

In April, President Claudia Sheinbaum ordered emergency purchases to resolve delivery delays and committed to resolving the cancer drug shortage by the end of July. That deadline, however, appears unlikely to be met.

As a stopgap, Jalisco’s emergency fund has been used to purchase medications and support civil organizations. But experts warn that unless the federal supply chain is stabilized, local efforts may not be enough.

Lives at Risk

The ongoing drug shortage is more than an administrative failure—it’s a life-threatening crisis. Interruptions in treatment can cause cancer to progress or recur, and patients are being forced to seek expensive private care or go without.

“Even a week without chemotherapy can compromise the entire course of treatment,” said Barbosa. “This isn’t just about money—it’s about lives.”

He called for renewed collaboration between state and federal authorities, including the creation of a national and state-level cancer patient registry to better understand the scope of the crisis. “We’re operating in the dark. What isn’t measured can’t be solved.”

As patients and families continue to protest and civil organizations try to keep up with demand, the question remains: will the government deliver—before more lives are put at risk?