- During the pandemic, the IMSS has granted 4.6 million disabilities due to COVID-19.
- Only throughout the last year the IMSS allocated 20 thousand 128 million pesos for the payment of disabilities.
- Fractures represent the largest expense in terms of subsidies for temporary incapacity for work.
A fundamental aspect for any worker to be able to carry out their duties is that they be in perfect condition. If he complies with it, he can also offer better care and that creates a better work environment. But do you know what the main reasons for incapacity for work are in Mexico?
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that at least 10 million workers suffer from diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, overweight and obesity. Which, in addition to the physical impact and vulnerability to respiratory diseases, particularly COVID-19, impacts companies on their competitiveness and the country’s economy.
According to National Health and Nutrition Survey 2018-2019, in the pre-pandemic stage in Mexico, there were 8.6 million people over 20 years of age living with Diabetes Mellitus. Also 15.2 million with arterial hypertension and 75.2% of the surveyed population reported living with overweight or obesity.
In addition, during the pandemic, 4.6 million disabilities have been granted due to COVID-19. The figure represents about 44 million working days lost. While during 2021, 70.6 million days of disability due to illnesses and authorized accidents were registered for workers affiliated with the IMSS.
From 2017 to 2021, the Institute granted an average of 23,344 disabilities for work. only last year The economic impact for the IMSS for this concept was 20 thousand 128 million pesos.
Most frequent reasons for incapacity for work
At the same time, the IMSS disclosed the most common reasons why a worker requests a disability: respiratory, musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases, dislocations, sprains and strains. Fractures accounted for the largest expense in terms of subsidies for temporary incapacity for work.
The prevention of illnesses and accidents in the workplace is key to improving people’s health. By implementing measures to have healthy workers, the quality and productivity of the work centers are strengthened, the safety and health of the workforce is protected, which is the most important asset of any organization.
Faced with the scenario of deteriorating workers’ health, the IMSS is preparing a strategy together with the business sector to promote preventive health and occupational risk actions in companies. In which the employer has the responsibility to collaborate in the application of the norms to protect the health of the employees.
The strategy is based on favoring workplaces with a healthy approach to strengthen the culture of prevention. The workforce is the pillar that supports health, the economy and society.
COVID permit and its impact against the pandemic
On the other hand, during the current pandemic, the IMSS and the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) presented an innovation. It’s about the COVID permit and was in force during the months of greatest transmission of the disease.
Among its innovations is that any worker with suspected contagion or symptoms of a respiratory disease could process it through the internet. The permit had legal and administrative effects comparable to a temporary incapacity. When processing it by the workers, it was sought to break the chains of contagion of COVID-19 in the workplace.