Sheinbaum Inaugurates Maternal, Child Hospital in Veracruz

President Claudia Sheinbaum inaugurated the IMSS Bienestar Maternal and Child Hospital in Coatzacoalcos, marking the opening of the first state-run hospital in Veracruz dedicated exclusively to maternal and pediatric care.

The facility, which began construction in 2012 but had remained unused for over a decade, was completed and equipped under the IMSS Bienestar program as part of the government’s efforts to expand access to public healthcare. With an investment exceeding MX$800 million (US$40 million), the hospital includes 140 beds, 14 consult rooms, five operating rooms, and specialized services for neonatology, high-risk pregnancy care, and pediatric surgery, as well as a human milk bank.

It will serve as a referral center for 206 IMSS Bienestar primary care facilities, nine general hospitals, and eight community hospitals in the region. The new unit begins operations with 280 healthcare professionals.

President Sheinbaum says that the facility responds to an overdue commitment to the people of southern Veracruz and neighboring areas of Oaxaca. “This hospital stands for dignity and justice. It offers the best care for those who have the least,” she states.

Rocío Nahle, Governor of Veracruz, highlights the hospital’s reach, noting its relevance not only for Veracruz but also for underserved communities in Oaxaca, Tabasco, and Chiapas. She called the facility a reflection of the current administration’s social justice policies and a model of collaborative federal-state governance.

Alejandro Svarch, Director, IMSS Bienestar, says that the hospital is part of a broader investment strategy that aims to strengthen public health infrastructure in the state. Since the beginning of 2025, IMSS Bienestar has provided over 2 million consultations and performed 32,000 surgeries across Veracruz.

Sheinbaum states that the public healthcare model will continue to expand, adding that health should be guaranteed without discrimination or cost. The hospital is part of a larger transformation of Mexico’s healthcare system, aimed at ensuring universal, state-provided care, particularly in underserved regions.