Household health care spending 2022, by category

The largest proportion of household expenditure on healthcare goods and services in Mexico is allocated towards medication, accounting for more than 40 percent of the total as of 2022. This is as much as all three following categories added together. Hospital services and medical visits account for around 15 percent each, while support goods such as soap, disinfectant, and toothpaste make up approximately 12 percent of the total. 

The cost of medication

Mexico ranks second among seven Latin American economies in terms of medicine prices, with an average cost of 29.5 U.S. dollars per medication in 2022. In comparison, the average price in Ecuador was 5.5 U.S. dollars. Respiratory medicines such as those for asthma and pneumonia were particularly expensive, averaging 37.2 U.S. dollars per unit. Additionally, medication for cardiovascular diseases, mental and behavioral disorders, and those targeting the nervous system were also among the costliest, with averages surpassing 30 U.S. dollars each. 

Healthcare expenditure

Mexico's overall healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP remains relatively low. In 2022, healthcare expenditure represented an estimated 5.5 percent of the country's GDP, a decrease from previous years. This figure is significantly lower than that of other OECD countries, with the United States allocating approximately 17 percent of its GDP to health care during that year. Within Latin America, Mexico has one of the lowest healthcare expenditures as a share of its GDP.