Capture and corporate cooptation: the role of the Mexican Foundation for Health in public health policy

IntroductionCorporate capture responds to efforts to strengthen regulation or prohibition of commercial determinants of health [tobacco, alcohol, sugar-sweetened beverages, ultra-processed products (UPFs), commercial milk formula, and pharmaceuticals], in an attempt to interfere with public health p...

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Main Authors: Christian Torres, Alejandro Calvillo, Javier Zúñiga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Political Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpos.2024.958854/full
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author Christian Torres
Alejandro Calvillo
Javier Zúñiga
author_facet Christian Torres
Alejandro Calvillo
Javier Zúñiga
author_sort Christian Torres
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionCorporate capture responds to efforts to strengthen regulation or prohibition of commercial determinants of health [tobacco, alcohol, sugar-sweetened beverages, ultra-processed products (UPFs), commercial milk formula, and pharmaceuticals], in an attempt to interfere with public health policies that threaten the commercial, economic, and political interests of major industries. This manuscript proposes the characterization of the corporate capture of public health in Mexico, exercised through the Mexican Foundation for Health (FUNSALUD).MethodologyAn analysis of FUNSALUD and its stakeholders was carried out under the framework of commercial determinants of health, using a qualitative methodology, and executed in five stages: document analysis from 1985 to 2021; identification and characterization of stakeholders; semi-structured interviews; classification of corporate strategies; and relationship mapping.ResultsActors in the pharmaceutical, food, tobacco, alcohol, commercial milk formula, and sugar-sweetened beverage industries were identified as corporate members of FUNSALUD. We identify six corporate strategies used to interfere in public health and food policies, highlighting the role of a revolving door bureaucracy in the case of the Ministry of Health.ConclusionThe Mexican Foundation for Health has functioned as a front organization created by the private sector to influence public policy decision-making, protect corporate interests, and oppose international recommendations to combat non-communicable diseases.
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spelling doaj.art-6d2945f212be40f98ebc441177bc39952024-03-07T04:44:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Political Science2673-31452024-03-01610.3389/fpos.2024.958854958854Capture and corporate cooptation: the role of the Mexican Foundation for Health in public health policyChristian TorresAlejandro CalvilloJavier ZúñigaIntroductionCorporate capture responds to efforts to strengthen regulation or prohibition of commercial determinants of health [tobacco, alcohol, sugar-sweetened beverages, ultra-processed products (UPFs), commercial milk formula, and pharmaceuticals], in an attempt to interfere with public health policies that threaten the commercial, economic, and political interests of major industries. This manuscript proposes the characterization of the corporate capture of public health in Mexico, exercised through the Mexican Foundation for Health (FUNSALUD).MethodologyAn analysis of FUNSALUD and its stakeholders was carried out under the framework of commercial determinants of health, using a qualitative methodology, and executed in five stages: document analysis from 1985 to 2021; identification and characterization of stakeholders; semi-structured interviews; classification of corporate strategies; and relationship mapping.ResultsActors in the pharmaceutical, food, tobacco, alcohol, commercial milk formula, and sugar-sweetened beverage industries were identified as corporate members of FUNSALUD. We identify six corporate strategies used to interfere in public health and food policies, highlighting the role of a revolving door bureaucracy in the case of the Ministry of Health.ConclusionThe Mexican Foundation for Health has functioned as a front organization created by the private sector to influence public policy decision-making, protect corporate interests, and oppose international recommendations to combat non-communicable diseases.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpos.2024.958854/fullcommercial determinants of healthcorporate practicesconflict of interesthealth policynutrition policy
spellingShingle Christian Torres
Alejandro Calvillo
Javier Zúñiga
Capture and corporate cooptation: the role of the Mexican Foundation for Health in public health policy
Frontiers in Political Science
commercial determinants of health
corporate practices
conflict of interest
health policy
nutrition policy
title Capture and corporate cooptation: the role of the Mexican Foundation for Health in public health policy
title_full Capture and corporate cooptation: the role of the Mexican Foundation for Health in public health policy
title_fullStr Capture and corporate cooptation: the role of the Mexican Foundation for Health in public health policy
title_full_unstemmed Capture and corporate cooptation: the role of the Mexican Foundation for Health in public health policy
title_short Capture and corporate cooptation: the role of the Mexican Foundation for Health in public health policy
title_sort capture and corporate cooptation the role of the mexican foundation for health in public health policy
topic commercial determinants of health
corporate practices
conflict of interest
health policy
nutrition policy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpos.2024.958854/full
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