IMSS Advances Social Security, Healthcare Expansion in Michoacan

The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) highlighted new steps to expand medical services and reinforce workplace social security in Michoacan as part of the state’s Plan for Peace and Justice. During a working tour, Zoé Robledo, Director General, IMSS, underscored that social security remains central to the plan and depends on well-equipped facilities and coordinated community participation.

Robledo reported the start of operations at the General Zone Hospital (HGZ) No. 86 in Uruapan. The facility incorporates 15 specialty consulting rooms, 90 censable beds, 49 non-censable beds, three operating rooms, and diagnostic equipment including a digital mammography service. According to IMSS, the hospital is intended to strengthen access to specialized care within the region and reduce the need for patient transfers to other municipalities.

IMSS will build a high-specialty hospital in Villas del Pedregal, complementing the facility in Charo, says Robledo. The institution also plans to build a new Family Medicine Unit (UMF) in Parangaricutiro to expand primary care and prevention services. The UMF project includes two Family Medicine rooms and one Specialized Nursing room. Robledo notes that nursing plays a growing role in early detection and disease prevention, aligning with IMSS efforts to reinforce primary care capacity.

The IMSS care model has remained in place through natural disasters, the pandemic, and past discussions of privatization, says Robledo. He said preventive medicine remains a priority and that the new UMF is designed to help patients resolve most needs locally, supported by basic imaging and laboratory sample-taking capabilities.

Workforce conditions were a central part of the discussion. Robledo says the expansion of social security coverage is essential for workers in the region, including for avocado packaging and export operations. He points out that while some successful business models overlook labor rights, IMSS records show that workers within the community’s cooperative and assembly are registered with the institute, which he described as an example of a broader understanding of production and employment.

State Governor Alfredo Ramírez says that the community is a national and international reference in sustainable resource management and job creation. He adds that the region is on track to reach 1,000 IMSS-affiliated workers, up from the current 938, with 75 more registrations under review. The governor says that this progress illustrates a model that should be replicated across the region, particularly in sectors where companies market themselves as socially responsible but fail to comply with labor rights. He adds that full compliance with social security obligations in agro-industry and agro-export operations would contribute to a stronger social fabric.

Mexico Expands Health Infrastructure in Michoacan

These actions form part of the Mexican government’s initiative to expand the healthcare sector in the state under the newly unveiled “Plan Michoacán for Peace and Justice.” The strategy, presented by President Claudia Sheinbaum, integrates public safety, social development, and health initiatives to address the state’s needs.

President Sheinbaum states that the healthcare measures form part of a broader strategy of social development, ensuring access to health, education, housing, and employment. The plan’s total investment exceeds MXN$57 billion, combining public and mixed financing, and includes targeted programs to benefit about 1.5 million residents in 2026.

Government officials highlight that the plan is a long-term effort, with ongoing collaboration between federal authorities, local governments, community organizations, and other stakeholders to monitor and implement the proposed actions.