• SPENDING: The Mexican federal government’s spending on health care fell short than originally projected during the first five months of 2020 despite the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic that has led to more than 40,000 deaths, new government estimates show.
• REDUCTION: While Mexico recorded its first coronavirus case February, the federal government spending between January and May only reached the equivalent of US $5.70 billion. The original projected expenditure was the equivalent of US $5.79 billion, according to the Ministry of Finance.
• PROGRAMS: Among key programs impacted by the government’s underspending is Mexico’s very own epidemiological surveillance program for which the López Obrador administration had projected spending the equivalent of US $11.2 million but ended only spending US $6.8 million.
• AUSTERITY: With Mexico’s GDP projected to shrink 10.5% in 2020 according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the López Obrador administration has redoubled its austerity efforts slashing general administration budgets but had said key programs will continue to be funded.
