On Thursday of last week, the digital magazine EMEEQUIS presented an investigation chilling: between 2019 and 2021 the maternal mortality ratio increased 161% according to a document from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). Despite this statistic, which is probably influenced by the effect of the pandemic, the same document revealed the lack of basic equipment to offer quality care such as gynecological-obstetric ultrasonography, electrohydraulic surgical tables and electric obstetric beds.
Maternal deaths are preventable and adequate monitoring allows many congenital conditions to be detected early to improve the quality of life of babies. However, the document recognized that investments will come to correct these equipment deficits, but they will be made until 2025. For the moment, affiliates that require gynecological care will have to wait, there are other priorities.
The inconsistency between an observed problem and the decisions made in this regard is not exclusive to the IMSS. According to an analysis of Daniela Balbino, IMCO researcher, While the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer increased 47% between 2019 and 2022, consultations to treat this condition decreased 270% in the same period. The effect is largely attributable to changes in the health system for those who do not have access to the social security system. In five years she went from Seguro Popular to the Health Institute for Wellbeing (Insabi) and is now in charge of IMSS-Wellbeing.
Sadly, neither these women nor other patients with diseases that require highly specialized treatments face an encouraging outlook. According to a note from IMCO , in 2024 the Ministry of Health program that allocates resources for this type of care will suffer a budget cut of 41% in real terms compared to what was budgeted for 2023. The bad thing is that for these patients time is of the essence and without proper treatment your life is in danger. Will it be included in other budget items? I’m not sure that’s the case.