IMSS Introduces New Public Health Program: PREVENIMSS+
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IMSS Introduces New Public Health Program: PREVENIMSS+

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Rodrigo Andrade By Rodrigo Andrade | Journalist & Industry Analyst - Fri, 08/12/2022 - 11:12

The Institute of Social Security (IMSS) and the Family Medicine Units (UMF) announced the launch of the national strategy PREVENIMSS+ and the campaign “Date tiempo, chécate en PREVENIMSS.” These programs aim to fortify self-care to prevent and control chronic degenerative diseases.

“More sedentary habits, people's weight increases, along with such a significant decrease on the part of the service providers, that is the level of risk we are at if we do not make decisions today,” said Zoé Robledo, Director General, IMSS, during the event to launch the new programs.

Although PREVENIMSS was launched in 2002, it has been unable to reduce the growing rates of chronic degenerative diseases, including overweight and obesity. These have doubled in the past 20 years among children between five and 11 years old. Overweight and obesity rates have increased by 80 percent among teenagers between 12 and 19 years old, and increased by 30 percent among those over 20 years. Through the new strategy, IMSS aims to address these growing rates, as the institute shifts its focus from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Now, IMSS is no longer focused on vaccination… but on how many kilos a person may have gained considering that [the added weight] can become a perfect storm if we do not take action in time,” said Robledo.

Public health is at a critical point, said Mauricio Hernández Ávila, Director of Economic and Social Benefits, IMSS. “In the next 30 years, there will be more than 25 million cases of chronic diseases in Mexico that will be reflected in 8.9 percent of total health expenditure from 2020 to 2050. This will result in the loss of productivity of 2.4 million full-time workers,” Hernández told Excelsior.

The public healthcare system has seen numerous shifts in the past few years. The elimination of Seguro Popular followed by the introduction of INSABI and IMSS-Bienestar have created confusion among patients and medical professionals about the responsibilities of each institution. “IMSS-Bienestar is an attractive alternative from a universal health perspective because its functionality is better established than INSABI’s. But the mechanisms for its services to reach people are still unclear, as is the way its funds will be divided in the provision of healthcare,” explains Andrés Castañeda, Health and Wellness Coordinator, Nosotrxs.

Photo by:   renategranade0

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