Víctor Hugo Borja: Management, challenges, and future
The Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) has entered a new stage under the leadership of Dr. Víctor Hugo Borja Aburto, who took office on January 1, 2026. His administration is part of the consolidation of the universal health system and the execution of the industrial policy established in the Plan México.
Profile of Commissioner Víctor Hugo Borja Aburto
Dr. Borja Aburto possesses a high-level technical profile specializing in epidemiology and public health management:
Academic Background: Medical degree from UAM, a Master’s from INSP, and a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Professional Career: Notable for his work at IMSS as Director of Medical Benefits and his critical role in the response to the influenza and COVID-19 pandemics.
Technical Vision: His appointment seeks to ensure that regulatory decision-making is strictly based on scientific evidence and transparency.
Strategic pillars of management
Although a specific agenda regarding the long-term roadmap has yet to be released, the administration begins with the objective of providing continuity and strength to four fundamental pillars:
Sanitary Sovereignty (Plan México): Promotion of domestic production of vaccines and pharmaceuticals. Public procurement will prioritize companies with productive investment in Mexico.
Efficiency and Digitalization: Utilization of the DIGIPRiS platform to streamline procedures. Resolution targets have been set at 60 days for medicines and 30 days for medical devices through international reliance agreements.
Transparency: A "zero corruption" policy to eliminate discretion and outsourcing in sanitary authorization processes.
International Recognition: Completing the process for COFEPRIS to be recognized as a WHO Listed Authority (WLA), facilitating the export of Mexican medical supplies.
Main institutional challenges
Despite the leadership's technical expertise, COFEPRIS faces critical challenges in the current environment:
Budgetary limitations: The need to maintain operations and regulatory quality within a context of fiscal austerity and restrictive budgets for the health sector.
Regulation of new risks: Implementation of the total ban on vapes and the control of regulated substances under the precautionary principle.
Administrative backlog: Clearing pending procedures from previous administrations without compromising the technical rigor of new applications.
The management of Dr. Víctor Hugo Borja Aburto at the helm of COFEPRIS represents an effort to institutionalize sanitary regulation in Mexico through a technical approach and alignment with the state's industrial development goals. The success of this transformation will depend on the Commission's ability to resolve pending operational backlogs and maintain its technical autonomy in the face of budgetary pressures. Ultimately, the consolidation of these pillars will define Mexico's position in the global market for health supplies and the effectiveness of sanitary protection for the population.
