Packing your luggages and heading for your new destination can surely be amazing. Who wouldn’t want to do it. As a matter of fact, most spring breakers target South-Americans areas, like Mexico. But, this latter is not just the perfect getaway; it is also a place that is known for its developed pharmaceutical industry. Below, we will tell about how they regulate such products. We will also consider whether it is possible to buy Viagra over the counter at their drugstores.

Medications in Mexico

The birthplace of ancient civilizations successfully “draws” on itself a part of the US citizens’ payment for medicines. This is mainly due to the difference in price: medicaments in Mexico are very low-cost. For the Americans, it is a great plus, as according to the recent survey they will end up saving up to 102%.

This low cost is associated with several factors. First of all, this is a low-level of income per capita: demands creates supply; and, if one has nothing to pay, pharmacies have to lower the prices.

In addition, the prices for medical remedies in the country are regulated by the state. Another important point is that for a long time, there has been no patent protection system in Mexico. In addition, the Patent Law is not retroactive and does not apply to medical products that are being created at the moment of its entry into force. Due to this, many meds still compete with cheaper analogs that have not been patented.

Regulation of medications in Mexico

The annual income of the pharmaceutical industry in the country is about eleven billion dollars, and according to this indicator, it ranks 11th in the world and the second in Latin America (after Brazil). Almost 60% of all Mexican drugs are generics, and this business keeps growing.

Recently, the pharmaceutical market in the country has become more rigidly regulated. In particular, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk (COFEPRIS), operating in Mexico, has recently stopped registration of more than 6000 types. So, the interests of corporations that give rise to such innovative drugs have been seriously affected.

There is a tendency to transfer production capacities of big pharmaceutical corporations to Asian countries (including China and India), where labor of workers is cheaper and more tax reliefs exist according to the law. Not long ago, a number of restrictions on pharmacy activities in Mexico were introduced. Today, even tourists admit that it is impossible to buy an RX medicament without a prescription in a Mexican drug store, although a few years ago this was the norm.

Can you buy Viagra without a prescription in Mexico?

According to Mexican legislation, Viagra is a prescription drug. Therefore, you are unlikely to be able to buy Viagra over the counter in this country, because now Mexican pharmacies are reluctant to violate the law. However, if you have a prescription, you can safely buy and transport across the Mexican border a number of drugs, in particular:

• Viagra;
• Levitra;
• Lorazepam;
• various antibiotic medicaments;
• contraceptive remedies.

Be careful, as meds that seem familiar to you may contain various active ingredients. Therefore, read the instructions before buying the drug. Also, beware of fake drugs; counterfeiting is the bane of the Mexican pharmaceutical industry, despite the government’s active fight against this situation.