Politics · Mexico · 1 hr ago
Sheinbaum acknowledges health system gaps ahead of IMSS workers’ protest
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged continuing problems in public health services.
The issues include shortages of specialist doctors, gaps in medicine distribution and workers hired during the COVID-19 emergency who lack proper contracts or benefits.
IMSS workers planned a protest in Mexico City to seek higher pay and better working conditions.
Sheinbaum said she had asked IMSS director Zoé Robledo to gather information from hospitals so the government can identify what remains unresolved.
She also said checks found medicine-supply problems at one of four IMSS hospitals visited in the city.
Sheinbaum said the pay increase totals 5.1 percent, including two parts of workers’ income, rather than 2.9 percent.
The government says it will investigate and address the remaining problems, while workers’ right to demonstrate is respected.
President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged ongoing shortages and other shortcomings in Mexico’s public health system ahead of an IMSS workers’ protest.
She said workers hired during the COVID-19 pandemic still lacked proper contracts and that medicine distribution problems persisted.
Sheinbaum called for a detailed assessment of unresolved problems and said the government would address workers’ concerns.
She said the combined salary increase for IMSS workers was 5.1%, rather than 2.9%.
She rejected claims that the health system was in crisis, while saying its remaining deficiencies needed further improvement.
- Who
- IMSS workers are planning a protest; President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed their demands.
- What
- Workers are seeking higher pay and better working conditions.
- When
- The protest was reported as planned for Tuesday, October 13, 2026; one article gives October 23.
- Where
- In cities across Mexico, according to El Universal.
- Why
- Workers are demanding higher wages and improved working conditions; they have also raised concerns about unresolved labor issues.
IMSS workers
Claudia Sheinbaum
Pay
IMSS workers
Workers are seeking a salary increase.
Claudia Sheinbaum
Sheinbaum said their combined income increase was 5.1%, rather than 2.9%.
Working conditions
IMSS workers
Workers are demanding better conditions, including proper contracts for some staff hired during the pandemic.
Claudia Sheinbaum
Sheinbaum said those cases and other health-sector problems would be addressed.
State of the health system
IMSS workers
Workers’ protest reflects concerns about unresolved problems.
Claudia Sheinbaum
Sheinbaum acknowledged shortcomings but rejected the characterization of the system as being in crisis.
Sheinbaum said she met with IMSS director Zoé Robledo to discuss problems at the institute.
Sheinbaum said she ordered Birmex staff to check medicine supplies at four IMSS hospitals in Mexico City; three had no supply problems and one did.
Sheinbaum acknowledged health-system shortcomings ahead of the planned IMSS workers’ protest.
Sheinbaum said the union had called a consultation.
- Salary increase
- Sheinbaum said the combined increase was 5.1%, not 2.9%.
- Hospitals checked
- Birmex staff checked four IMSS hospitals in Mexico City; one had supply problems.
- Pandemic-era workers
- Some workers hired during COVID-19 still lacked proper contracts.
- New hospitals
- Sheinbaum said 34 new hospitals had been completed during her government, representing 1,840 beds.
- Planned construction
- Sheinbaum said 15 more hospitals were being built for IMSS, ISSSTE and IMSS-Bienestar.
What people are saying
What we need to do is a real diagnosis so we can address what has not been resolved.
Those workers hired during Covid who still do not have proper contracts must be given them, because it is not fair that they were asked to make an extraordinary effort during Covid and today do not have the best working conditions.
There is a consultation on Wednesday. What is important is that their income increases by 5.1% overall.
There are legitimate demands that must be addressed.
Sources
"No hemos estado de brazos cruzados"; Sheinbaum rechaza crisis de salud en México ante marcha de trabajadores del IMSS
IMSS requiere un "verdadero diagnóstico" para atender lo que no está resuelto: Sheinbaum
Admite CSP carencias y fallas en sistema de salud










