• CASES: The López Obrador Administration detected at least 314 cases of public contracting under suspicion for irregular practices during its first year in office of which 153 have been referred to Mexico’s Attorney General, said Raquel Buenrostro, senior finance officer at the Finance Minister.
• CRIMINAL: “Some acts of corruption…are criminal acts. In the case of the health sector we’ve found a wide range of prices (paid) for one medicine ranging from USD 3 to 41. We’ve found USD 2.60 bakery rolls. Worst of all: We’ve seen drugs hidden with the goal of raising its price”, said Buenrostro.
• SAVINGS: In March, Buenrostro had established a government savings goal of USD 10.4 billion through the establishment of a new national public procurement system; yesterday, she said that the Government already reached this goal in October by fighting overpricing and duplicity in contracts.
• ADVICE: “Corruption exists in many forms in Mexico…The use of exceptions such as shortened procurement windows and sole source awards are common. (Yet), US companies regularly win government contracts based on the strength of their bid”, the US Department of Commerce says.
