The head of the Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco), Ricardo Sheffield, has called out private hospitals and clinics that have hiked up their fees disproportionately, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Over the past three years, hospitals and hospital service providers have increased their charges between 15 and 20 percent above the inflation rate, Sheffield said, citing data provided by a range of health insurance providers.
Sheffield said insurance companies have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, incurring their highest payouts since Hurricane Wilma devastated the Yucatan peninsula in October 2005.
Sheffield said that hurricane caused damages of $US2.4 billion. The coronavirus pandemic has so far cost insurers $US2.484 billion, he said.