In Mexico, healthcare is supposed to be a universal right.

In 1983, the Constitution was modified to require the government provide access to health to all citizens,

but 40 years later, not everyone does.

Instead, a drugstore giant and its clinics have popped up everywhere to fill those gaps,

and it's all led by a very popular cartoon mascot.

A pudgy bald guy with an enormous mustache,

whose name is Dr. Seamy.

But can Dr. Simi really meet the health care needs of all Mexicans?

I'm Gustavo Ariano. You're listening to The Times, Essential News, from the LA Times.

It's Wednesday, April 19, 2023.

Today, the rise of a pharmacy chain and its informal clinics and what it reveals about the failures of Mexico's public health care system.

Thank you. Here to talk to me about the unlikely rise of this Mexican pharmacy chain is my LA Times colleague, foreign correspondent Layla Miller.

Layla, welcome to Times.

Thanks so much for having me.

Okay, so I have not seen the doctor see me in a long time. And people who aren't Mexican definitely have little to no idea of the doctor.

So tell us, remind us, who is he?

Dr. Simi is the cartoon mascot for Pharmacias Similares, which is one of Mexico's largest

pharmaceutical companies.

He is this old white man with a bit of a stomach, a bushy mustache, and he has three hairs

on each side of his head.

For those who not me know me connoisse, I'm the Dr. Simi.

And for those who you know and for the

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