Minister of Health Meets State Officials to Discuss Agenda

Mexico’s Minister of Health David Kershenobich met health officials from all states and directors of public health institutions to outline President Claudia Sheinbaum’s health agenda. The meeting focused on strengthening the IMSS-Bienestar system, emphasizing preventive medicine, and standardizing healthcare protocols.

At the meeting, Kershenobich underscored President Sheinbaum’s directive to make IMSS-Bienestar the central pillar of the administration’s healthcare efforts, as reported by Mexico’s Ministry of Health (SSA). The initiative aims to provide social security coverage to all Mexican citizens, regardless of their affiliation with existing public health institutions. This move seeks to address gaps in healthcare access and ensure more inclusive services across the nation.

Kershenobich also highlighted the administration’s focus on preventive and primary care. This approach aims to shift the focus from reactive to proactive health measures by addressing conditions before they become more severe. As part of this strategy, the SSA plans to develop national medical care protocols, which will be binding for both public and private health institutions. These protocols are designed to standardize diagnosis and treatment procedures for prevalent conditions such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension.

Kershenobich also introduced the "Salud Casa por Casa" program, previously announced by Sheinbaum. The initiative will support health personnel through a 24/7 telephone assistance center, providing guidance and resources for those delivering care to older adults under this social program. 

Sheinbaum’s plans include a six-year strategy to combat dengue, a growing epidemic in several regions of Mexico, said Kershenobich. He added that interdisciplinary collaboration would be essential to contain the spread of the disease. This initiative includes a coordinated response between various public health bodies, aiming to strengthen the country's preparedness and response to dengue outbreaks.

During the meeting, Kershenobich encouraged state health directors to collaborate closely with SSA, emphasizing the need for alignment in implementing the new protocols and programs.