Reform of General Health Law Leads to Elimination of INSABI

The General Health Law reform, proposed by Congressman Emmanuel Reyes Carmona from MORENA, has been approved by the Mexican Chamber of Deputies. This amendment will result in the elimination of the Institute of Health for Well-being (INSABI) and the transfer of its responsibilities to IMSS-BIENESTAR.

“It is approved, in general, with 267 votes in favor, 222 against and one abstention, the initiative that reforms, adds and repeals various provisions of the General Health Law, to regulate the Health System for Well-being,” tweeted the Mexican Chamber of Deputies. 

The reform aims to ensure people's right to health through the provision of quality care services and disease prevention, which will be supported by public health actions with multi sectoral policies, according to the initiative proposed by Reyes. The elimination of INSABI and the transfer of its functions to IMSS-BIENESTAR is expected to streamline the delivery of healthcare services and improve their quality. 

However, leaders in the health industry say that this transformation may be an attempt to sidestep accountability for previous health-related mistakes made by the current administration. “Today, what they decide to do is to acknowledge failure because by getting rid of the system they created, they recognize that it failed. However, instead of accepting, studying and analyzing the mistakes, what they are doing is transferring those same flaws to another institution, the IMSS-BIENESTAR,” says Salomón Chertorivski, Former Minister of Health. 

Meanwhile, Cinthya López, Member of the Congress, PRI, argues that the loss of lives due to the absence of essential medicines and vaccines is unjustifiable. “For the past three years, there have not been enough vaccines for children, not even in the private sector. Before that, Mexico’s vaccination protocols were some of the most successful worldwide but now, only three out of every 10 newborns have access to the necessary vaccines. As a result, life expectancy has been reduced by at least three years,” says José Carlos Ferreyra, President, INEFAM to MBN. 

Furthermore, some assert that this reform will have a detrimental impact on the health of the Mexican population. “This proposal is riddled with errors that will undoubtedly lead to an increase in the pain, suffering and deaths of Mexicans,” writes Éctor Jaime Ramírez, Member of Congress, PAN. Critics also say that the transition was shrouded by the lack of communication with all relevant parties and federal entities involved.