A new investigation raises questions about the finances of the director of Birmex, Mexico’s state-owned company responsible for producing and distributing vaccines and other biologic medicines. According to the report, the official purchased two apartments outright, paying cash for properties together valued at 22 million pesos (roughly $1.2 million USD at current exchange rates).
The same investigation found that the director has also taken at least 19 trips abroad, though it does not specify the destinations, dates or who covered the costs. Together, the real estate purchases and the frequent international travel have drawn scrutiny, given that Birmex is a public entity funded with taxpayer money and tasked with a sensitive public-health mission: ensuring Mexico’s supply of vaccines and other essential medicines.
Birmex has been at the center of Mexico’s efforts to strengthen domestic vaccine production in recent years, making transparency around its leadership’s finances especially relevant to the public. As of now, neither Birmex nor its director has publicly responded to the specific findings outlined in the report.
The case adds to a broader conversation in Mexico about accountability among officials who manage public health resources. To see the full findings, including further financial details uncovered by the investigation, you can read the original report from El Universal.
Source: Director de Birmex compró al contado 2 depas por 22 mdp; además, suma al menos 19 viajes por el mundo (eluniversal.com.mx). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Son of Groucho, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).