On October 14, Mexico’s Secretary of Health, Dr. David Kershenobich, and European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, co-chaired the first meeting of the EU-Mexico High-Level Dialogue on Health.
The Dialogue aims to turn shared health priorities into tangible results for patients, stronger health systems and more resilient supply chains. As reliable and trusted partners, the EU and Mexico recognise the strategic importance of innovative health systems, secure and diversified supply chains, and preparedness for cross-border health threats.
The Dialogue was launched by Leaders at the 8th EU-Mexico Summit on 22 May 2026, where the Modernised Global Agreement and the Interim Trade Agreement were signed.
The kick-off meeting took place in Mexico City and focused on non-communicable diseases, pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, regulatory cooperation, medicines and medical devices, research and innovation, and digital health, among other topics.
The meeting was also attended by Mexico’s Federal Commissioner of COFEPRIS, Dr. Víctor Hugo Borja, and representatives from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation.
Non-communicable diseases and mental health
The EU and Mexico are committed to working together to improve the prevention, detection, treatment and care of non-communicable diseases.
Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and mental health were identified as particular priorities for both sides. They exchanged policy experiences and best practices, and agreed to explore ways to improve access to essential medicines and diagnostics, as well as enhanced training for specialised workforces.
Both sides recognised the importance of health data governance and the potential of the European Health Data Space to inform cooperation in this area.
Mexico and the EU agreed to advance their collaboration on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response through strengthened bilateral and multilateral engagement, in order to strengthen global health. They identified surveillance, early warning, genomic data sharing and rapid research as essential to detecting and containing outbreaks with pandemic potential.
The Dialogue welcomed agreement on a Joint Action Plan between the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and Mexico’s Secretariat for Health to further strengthen practical cooperation on infectious disease prevention and control.
The EU and Mexico welcomed progress in regulatory cooperation. Both sides reaffirmed their continued collaboration to strengthen Mexico’s medicines and vaccines regulatory system in line with the highest international standards, including through the EU-funded programme implemented by the Pan American Health Organization.
They discussed ways to enhance practical collaboration on pharmaceutical issues, including regulatory reliance and convergence with international standards and guidelines, and announced plans to establish a working arrangement between the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Mexican Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS).
Critical medicines and supply chains
Mexico and the EU recognised their shared interest in critical medicines, as well as their respective efforts to diversify supply chains. They agreed to explore mutually beneficial initiatives to diversify supplies of critical medicines, active pharmaceutical ingredients and key inputs, strengthen security of supply and support pharmaceutical production capacity in both regions, building on the Plan México and the EU’s Global Gateway Investment Agenda.
Mexico welcomes the launch today of the High-Level Dialogue on Health with the European Union, set in motion by our Leaders at the May Summit alongside the signing of the Modernised Global Agreement. The 2026 Dialogue offers a structured forum for both sides to exchange best practices and recommendations to address shared challenges, from chronic diseases and mental health to pandemic preparedness and regulatory strengthening. We are confident that this partnership will bring mutual benefit and concrete results for the people of Mexico and of the European Union.
Dr. David Kershenobich, Mexico’s Secretary of Health
To this end, they also explored opportunities for cooperation and investment by the Mexican and EU industries, and a potential strategic partnership as envisaged under the upcoming EU’s Critical Medicines Act.
Following the Dialogue, the delegations visited CENTRO KALAN, the National Center for Health and Wellness Cultures, at the historic headquarters of Mexico’s Ministry of Health.
Today’s first EU-Mexico High-Level Dialogue on Health opens a new chapter in our partnership. Together, we will build on our strengths to improve access to quality care for our citizens, tackle non-communicable diseases, drive innovation for medicines and medical devices, as well as strengthen and diversify supply chains. We are making health a strategic pillar of EU-Mexico relations, advancing stability and prosperity for our societies and strengthening global health security.
EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi
Pictures: Secretaría de Salud (Mx)
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