Consultation Regarding the Army/Strengthening the Health System

Consultation on army duties. Minister of the Interior Adán Augusto López announced that on January 22, 2023, the consultation whether the armed forces participate in public activities until 2028 will be held. “We invite everyone to vote. Voting will take place from 08:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 22, 2023. All citizens will be able to participate using their CURP as well with an official identification.”

The consultation would be based on three questions regarding the army´s participation in public security duties. The people would have to answer the following three questions: if they agree with the creation and operation of the National Guard, if it should depend on SEDENA and if it should prolong its civil duties until 2028. Since the president´s initiative was not approved by the senators to extend the military plan until 2028, López Obrador instead proposed a popular consultation.

This month, deputies approved the National Guard reform, which makes it operationally and administratively dependent on SEDENA. The reform was approved with 69 votes in favor, 50 against and an objection in a session that lasted more than 11 hours. The opposition, however, has accused López Obrador’s government of militarizing the country and is planning to file action against the reform so that it can be suspended.

Rescuing the health system is a priority for AMLO´s government: AMLO. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said that currently the government's priority is to address the issues of medical deficit and shortage of medicines, especially in the Institute of Security and Social Services of State Workers (ISSSTE), which has been the most affected by privatization. “Now we are rescuing ISSSTE. Former ISSSTE officials were the main providers of services and doctors, leaving medical care almost completely privatized. We want to change that."

Previously, López Obrador reported that the country had a deficit of 50,000 doctors, a problem exacerbated in rural areas as Mexican medical professionals seek to study and work in larger cities. The president said that, sometimes, Mexican doctors even refuse to move to rural areas. Consequently, the government announced that it would create employment positions for foreign doctors.

For months, the government has highlighted the shortage of medicines the country is facing. For instance, the Institute of Health for the Wellbeing (INSABI) received only 40.89 percent of the medicines requested by its hospitals in different regions of Mexico, according to its own data. The official site indicates that only 145 million pieces have been delivered as of July 25, 2022 from the 357 million requested. Faced with this problem, the federal administration reformed the Federal Law on Acquisitions of medicines and medical supplies, with which all acquisitions of health supplies in Mexico are now handled directly with manufacturers, either through bidding processes or direct sales.

Mayan Train. López Obrador assured that the Mayan Train is being developed without affecting the environment. In addition, the president stressed that the project will be electric to make it even more environmentally friendly. “Due to our new contracts for marine gas pipelines; we will have gas surpluses in PEMEX. This will help us so that the Mayan train is provided with all the electricity it needs.”

The Mayan Train is perhaps the most controversial of López Obrador’s key infrastructure projects because of how its development has been handled. In May 2022, María Albores, Minister of Environment, stated that the project might require cutting down over 300,000 trees along the train’s route. In addition, its construction has been accused of damaging the karst landscapes, harm the integrity of cenotes and cause significant deforestation, as well as destroy archeological and paleontological remains.