Mexico's New Prescription Drug Law - Good or Bad?

The Mexican government passed a new law a few months ago requiring that all consumers who purchase antibiotics must present an original prescription from a certified Mexican doctor.  This means no citizen, resident or tourist in Mexico is allowed to just walk into a pharmacy in Mexico and buy whatever antibiotic they choose without first visiting a doctor.  Although this new decree makes it more difficult for many to treat simple illnesses like travelers diarrhea by simply purchasing Cipro (ciprofloxacin - an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections), the law appears to be well-intended and may actually do some good.

A couple of months ago while we were in the US Allan's American doctor recommended Allan take Cipro for a week to cure a minor medical condition.  Allan decided to pick up the drug when we returned to Playa del Carmen as it was less expensive (and we were unaware of the new law). When Allan sent me to the pharmacy in Mexico I was stunned that the pharmacists would not sell it without a prescription.  They mentioned a new law passed and pointed to a sign explaining the new legislation.  I unsuccessfully tried 4 different pharmacies, hoping one would ignore the law.

At first we viewed the law as a bit of an inconvenience.  We wondered why Mexico was focusing on antibiotics.  Although they are strongly regulated in the US, so is almost everything in America.  From our experience in Mexico things are a bit more laid back.  Why decide to control antibiotics now? 

Our opinion has since changed after speaking with a local Mexican doctor.  According to him the Mexican legislature was faced with a financial crisis and felt compelled to act.  Many sick were incorrectly self-medicating themselves with antibiotics, often with the wrong dosage or completely wrong medicine.  Consequently the state sponsored hospitals were seeing a rise in the amount of patients who required stronger, and hence more expensive, antibiotics because the bacteria was becoming resistant to the antibiotics.  Through improper use and dosage, the sick were essentially not killing the bacteria, but rather making it stronger.  Hypothetically 8 out of every 10 patients would now need the more expensive drug and the state would have to pay for it.  Additionally, by now requiring people to first visit a doctor the state would essentially help to control proper diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, thus also providing more public safety and cutting cost by hopefully having less sick.

Although the new prescription drug law makes it more difficult for us to treat minor illnesses on our own, it does help us to correctly treat our medical problems and hopefully stop the stem of antibiotic resistant bacteria.  Hopefully the government will be able to cut costs and put the money to good use, like maybe fighting poverty in Mexico.  A routine visit from a doctor is probably a good idea anyway, even if it is not the most convenient.

The new law also has allowed me to experience the humor of living in Mexico.  Yesterday at the pharmacy the technician was pointing to a line item on the prescription and indicated that it was not in their system.  Written in English were the words "plenty of fluids".  I explained that it meant the patient should drink more water.  When the technician could not find in their system another item on the list I joking said it meant "kiss more girls".

Notice of the new law at the pharmacy.  Translation "Dear User, this commercial pharmaceutical establishment sells antibiotics only with a medical prescription."

View of the beach at Playacar Phase 1

Demi and Mitzi

Illegal Immigration from the Perspective of a Gringo in Mexco

I was speaking with a Mexican waiter the other day who works in a nearby restaurant about Allan and my recent trip to the US. The waiter whom we'll name Jose commented that he was planning on going to the US next Spring.  When I asked how, he responded "illegally, like everyone else".  Of course I could not just let that comment go, I had to find out more and ask some questions.  How much would it cost?  Where would he leave from?  What would he do in the US?

For $23,000 pesos (or roughly $1,800 USD) a coyote (or human smuggler) would take Jose and 14 other people from his hometown of Chiapas, Mexico to the border.  They would then cross the desert by foot, and once in the US a van would pick them up and take them to Miami.  Once in Miami Jose would work in construction for 4 years, save up enough money and then return to Mexico and buy a house in Chiapas where there is currently no work and little money.

He thought the Spring was the best time to go in terms of weather and safety.  According to Jose there is currently a lot of police activity near the border making it unsafe for illegals. He was also waiting for the coyote to assemble a group of 15 people in total to take across at once.  That's roughly $26,000 USD total for all 15 people.  Perhaps I'm in the wrong business.

I mentioned to Jose that there was no guaranty the van would actually arrive once they crossed the border - they could just be stranded. Jose seemed confident he would not be abandoned.  I guess this is a well-known "reputable" operation.  

Although I don't know Jose that well, he seems to be a very nice, personable and trust worthy fellow.  He always has a smile on his face, and is always willing to help.  Over the past 2 years we have met several people like Jose who were either planning on going to the US or had just come back.  They all have interesting stories of why they went, why they returned or why they were going.  One guy was doing construction in Washington D.C., hit his girlfriend, was then thrown in jail and sent back to Mexico.  He has been the exception - the bad apple being returned.

Having this personal contact with  future and former illegal immigrants has given us a lot to think about in terms the whole immigration debate.  The prospects to get ahead in Mexico are slim.  In the US there is much more opportunity to succeed.  There is also a need for foreign workers.  Many US citizens don't want to do the manual labor jobs that illegals do so eagerly.  For example Jose works in Mexico 6 days a week, 12 hours a day and barely makes enough to get by.  He can't afford books to read.  In the US he could work for only 4 years and save enough money to buy a home in Mexico.

The US has to find someway to address the immigration issue so people can go to the US legally to work, and maybe eventually work towards citizenship.  I think some sort of foreigner worker program would solve it - where foreigners would be allowed to legally come to the US to work, get registered with the US government so we can track them and so they can pay taxes, and perhaps after say 10 years they could apply for citizenship.

It serves nether the US nor the rest of the world to have this open border with people sneaking in.  I certainly don't condone illegal immigration, but do realize there are many people who are honest and hard working and would like to come to the US to work and live in search for a better life, like my ancestors did a century ago. Of course they should do so legally not illegally.

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Allan eating lunch at Cactus

My meal at Cactus: Chicken Tacos with Refried Beans and Guacamole

Demi at the Beach

Demi Again

Demi between Allan's legs

Allan and Demi

Our colorful beach chairs

Playing Dominoes at Xaman Ha

Another view of the Domino game

Allan

Allan and Janet

Playing Cards

More Cards

We're Playing Cards in the Pool!

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Police Presense

Since news of the Swine Flu hit the global press and the number of tourists dropped to almost nothing, it seems the police have less people to stop so now they are actively stopping the locals, both Mexican and non alike. It is said that quite often when one is pulled over for a traffic infraction one can simply "pay the ticket on the spot to the officer" for a mere $200 pesos (around $20 USD) rather than actually receiving a ticket. Some might call this a bribe.

Typically when one is stopped, the officer will take one's license, issue a ticket and then one needs to drive to the police precinct, pay the fine and only then will the license be returned. It's often easier to pay the fine on the spot; however it is does not help the growing corruption problem.

Corruption exists globally - even in the US - it's just that the results are more predictable in Mexico. Pay an officer $20 and get out of a ticket. In the US one might be arrested for such an act. If one were to tell me that there are no corrupt politicians or police officials in the US than I might call that person crazy.

Since Allan and I have been in Mexico we have been pulled over many times for traffic violations and only once was it not our fault. We have paid a significant amount of money for these infractions.

What some people do is to make various colored copies of one's license, have them laminated and then hand the copies to the officer. The officer then takes the license, issues the ticket and then one leaves. The license copy remains at the police barracks and there is no need to pay to receive the copy back, so one essentially avoids paying the bribe and avoids paying the actual ticket. I'm not saying this trickery is right, but it does turn the tables on police corruption. If they can play games why can't "offenders".

In places like Mexico City where police corruption was once rampant I've heard there has been a large crackdown. Anyone offering a bribe will be arrested - any officer asking for one will be fired. Since the swine flu there was been a lot of complaints from motorists in Playa about police corruption. Even the Mexican consulate has become involved. Various gringos have voiced their detailed complaints to the consulate, the consulate has met with the head of police and one officer has been fired and various others reprimanded.

Allan and I refuse to pay into Playa's police corruption problem. We are going to drive safely according to posted traffic rules, and if we are pulled over injustly will address the situation without paying any bribes. It always helps to play stupid like Allan does, pretending one speaks no spanish, and often one is let go without a ticket or bribe being paid.

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