- The Institute closed fiscal year 2022 with an actuarial financial reserve of 120 billion pesos.
- It currently serves 13 million beneficiaries.
- Its director has stated on various occasions that “ISSSTE is better than ever.”
We are barely in the first week of 2023 and the problems for the health field have already begun. In this case, the medical staff of the Institute of Security and Social Services for State Workers (ISSSTE) organized a march in Mexico City. The reason is the constant shortage of medicines that has led to an “unsustainable situation.”
Founded on December 30, 1959, it is the second largest public health institution in the country. It currently serves 13 million beneficiaries. Together with the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) it provides health coverage between 55 and 60 percent of the population throughout the country.
Recent ISSSTE work
In fact, over the past few days its CEO, Pedro Zenteno, has presumed that they are better than ever. Based on her words, there are healthy finances and one of the priorities is the construction of new hospitals and equipping the current ones.
Among the current projects, the construction of four regional hospitals in Coahuila, Jalisco, Guerrero and Tamaulipas. In addition, Family Medicine Clinics (CMF) will be built in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, and in Palenque, Chiapas. Similarly, during the first quarter of this year, the Pachuca, Hidalgo, construction site will be built, with a construction progress of 40 percent.
The five action strategies that are priorities in ISSSTE
- Enough staff to open additional shifts when necessary.
- Timely supply of medicines in all units.
- Preventive and corrective maintenance, equipment, extensions and, in some cases, construction.
- Secure dental services.
- Establish sampling modules for laboratory studies.
Despite all of the above, the lack of supplies and medicines persists. For this reason, workers National Medical Center “November 20” They decided to take to the streets to denounce this serious inconsistency.
doctors of the @cmn20november they march towards the Adolfo López Mateos Hospital; they demand respect for their labor rights and basic inputs to work;#out of stock unsustainable in @ISSSTE_mx #HospitalsISSSTEenRisk pic.twitter.com/lETvSFOXSF
— Health and Economy. Economy and Health (@MaribelRCoronel) January 4, 2023
In addition, it is not the only one, but they also demand better working conditions. According to what was published by The universalanother of the demands is the overtime pay because there are cases where there are debts for more than a month.
Similarly, the National Union of ISSSTE Workers (SNTISSSTE) mentions that for a few weeks forced all personnel to submit to registration and attendance control in their workplaces. The problem is that it considers that it is a unilateral, irregular and arbitrary measure that violates the rights of doctors and affects the internal work environment.
“The deputy director of personnel saw fit to issue a circular in which he clarifies that as of January 1, the homologation of the attendance record must be carried out in all the medical areas of our institution without exception. Clearly it is totally irregular, since he is not empowered to issue a document of this nature, much less tear down an agreement that was signed by people who are empowered to do so.
Having said all of the above, the situation in the ISSSTE It looks delicate and contrasts with the optimistic panorama that Pedro Zenteno presumes. While the issue of drug shortages also extends to other institutions and affects both doctors and patients.
Also read:
ISSSTE achieves the impossible: 2023 begins without corruption
ISSSTE presumes to close 2022 with healthy finances: “We are better than ever”
ISSSTE health model against chronic degenerative diseases