Politics · Mexico · 1 hr ago
Sheinbaum promises changes to Mexico’s public health system
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says public health services need reform after identifying problems with medicine delivery, specialist shortages and hospital administration.
She said the problems affect the IMSS, the ISSSTE and IMSS Bienestar, which serves people without social security.
Sheinbaum said funding is not the main problem and blamed some failures on procedures that have not been updated for decades.
She described medicines sitting in warehouses while patients go without them, and hospitals lacking specialists to keep operating rooms open.
Her government is forming a team to modernize health service processes, including through digital tools, and she plans unannounced visits to health centres.
The changes come as IMSS workers press for better pay, staffing, medicines and working conditions after rejecting a proposed 6.8% overall increase.
Sheinbaum said the government is reviewing workers’ demands and will give an update on her hospital visits on Monday.
President Claudia Sheinbaum promised to modernise Mexico’s public health system to address problems with medicine distribution and hospital care.
She said a lack of funding was not the cause, pointing instead to procedures that had not been modernised for up to 60 years.
She announced a team to change processes at the IMSS, ISSSTE and IMSS Bienestar.
The announcement came as her government negotiated with IMSS workers after they rejected a pay offer and raised workplace concerns.
She also announced plans to hire health workers in Yucatán and establish a medical and nursing campus in Umán.
- Who
- President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the changes. The government is also negotiating with workers at the IMSS.
- What
- She promised to modernise public health system processes and address problems including medicine distribution and hospital care.
- When
- Saturday, according to the article. The publication date is 2026-10-18.
- Where
- At a housing handover event in Umán, Yucatán, Mexico.
- Why
- She said the system had problems with medicine distribution, specialist availability and administrative procedures.
The Mexican government
IMSS workers
Pay offer
The Mexican government
The government offered an overall increase of 6.8%, comprising 2.9% in salary and 3.9% in benefits.
IMSS workers
Workers rejected the offer.
Workplace demands
The Mexican government
The government was examining regularisation of positions and other demands.
IMSS workers
Workers called for better working conditions, sufficient staff and medicine supplies.
IMSS workers rejected an offer of an overall 6.8% increase.
Sheinbaum met for about three hours with directors of 13 hospitals in Quintana Roo, who raised concerns about a shortage of specialists.
At an event in Umán, Yucatán, Sheinbaum promised to modernise public health system processes.
Sheinbaum said she would give an account of her hospital visits at her regular morning press conference.
- Pay offer
- 6.8% overall: 2.9% in salary and 3.9% in benefits
- Hospitals consulted
- Directors of 13 hospitals in Quintana Roo
- Institutions covered
- IMSS, ISSSTE and IMSS Bienestar
- Yucatán hospital
- Hospital General Dr. Agustín O’Horán
- Planned campus
- Universidad Nacional Rosario Castellanos in Umán
What people are saying
There is no shortage of resources, there is no shortage of economic resources
resolve the issue of the pay increase and some of the demands the doctors have