Sheinbaum Appoints Zoé Robledo to Continue Leading IMSS

Claudia Sheinbaum has appointed Zoé Robledo as Minister of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS). Robledo, who currently holds the position, will continue in this role under Sheinbaum’s administration.

“President @Claudiashein, you have my commitment, enthusiasm, and full energy to strengthen the healthcare system that the people of Mexico deserve, and to do so from the most noble institution of this nation: the Mexican Social Security Institute,” tweets Robledo.

On May 22, 2019, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador appointed Robledo as the head of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). Robledo  also leads the IMSS-Bienestar program, which aims to transform the national health system. He  serves as the Chairman of its Governing Board.

Zoé Robledo has had a prominent political career. Elected as a Federal Deputy for Chiapas in July 2018, he took leave in November to serve as Deputy Minister of Government until May 2019. He has held key positions, including Vice Coordinator of the Morena-PT parliamentary group and chairing Senate committees on Library and Editorial Affairs, and Radio, Television, and Cinematography. 

Internationally, he represented the Senate in the Central American Parliament and chaired the Committee on Probity and Transparency at the Forum of Central American Presidents. Elected as a Senator for Chiapas in 2012, he previously served as a local deputy in 2010, becoming the youngest President of the Chiapas State Congress. He is also an accomplished writer and recipient of the National Journalism Award.

“Today, we are building a public health system where both IMSS beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries in IMSS-Bienestar will receive free, timely, and quality care,” says Robledo. 

During her electoral campaign, Sheinbaum pledged to invest more in the healthcare system and fortify IMSS-Bienestar. Sheinbaum also highlighted her commitment to the República Sana (Healthy Republic) initiative, which prioritizes the most vulnerable individuals and those with the fewest resources, as reported by MBN. To achieve this, she proposes assigning different responsibilities among various public health institutions. Mexico’s Ministry of Health (SSA), for example, would be responsible for establishing agreements with pharmacies to dispense certain generic medicines free of charge to IMSS-Bienestar patients.

In shaping her healthcare project, Sheinbaum will receive assistance from David Kershenobich, who served as the coordinator of health transformation forums during her campaign. Prior to the elections, Sheinbaum and Kershenobich met with key stakeholders in the healthcare sector to initiate a dialogue between both parties.