IMSS Adapts Priorities to the New Normal

IMSS’s Director, Zoé Robledo, said that the institute will work to support the “new normal” in the health and labor fields. IMSS aims to transform both sectors with the knowledge gained from the COVID-19 health crisis.  

“The worst thing that can happen to a health system after a pandemic is to not learn from its lessons,” said Robledo.

The new normal will focus on the prevention of the 80 percent diseases that can be prevented and promote a balanced diet and an active lifestyle and entertainment. Likewise, the work environment will be transformed to address the increased amount of work. The institute will prioritize women’s labor issues and will work in collaboration with industries to meet “basic needs such as breastfeeding rooms that women need during the first stages of their new born babies’ lives,” he added.

Also, IMSS will continue to work to provide social security to domestic workers. Legally, they can now enjoy social security due to a program that started before the pandemic. However, there is still work to be done to provide this benefit to Mexico’s 2 million domestic workers. The institute also plans to expand this program to other sectors to benefit more independent workers.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, IMSS adapted 233 hospitals to treat those infected with SARS-CoV-2. At the beginning of the pandemic “we had approximately 350,000 hospitalized people in our facilities”, said Robledo. Through an alliance with CEMEX, IMSS also designed several 40-bed hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients.

The Mexican health system is experiencing a deep transformation. The integration of health services through IMSS-Bienestar aims to offer care to those who are not affiliated to other public institutions such as ISSSTE or ISSFAM. “Will offer the conditions to boost the development of programs that support science in favor of communities,” said Jorge Alcocer, Mexico’s Minister of Health. IMSS is also relying on the expertise of other sector’s professionals and has invited 20 new members to be part of its Directive Council, as reported by MBN.