In a significant step for healthcare in Mexico, President Sheinbaum inaugurated a new IMSS general hospital in San Lorenzo Cacaotepec, Oaxaca, part of a larger initiative toward Universal Health Service. This facility is expected to benefit nearly one million residents by providing essential medical services and creating around 2,826 jobs. The newly established complex will also include an ISSSTE hospital and plans for an IMSS-Bienestar facility, collectively contributing to the government’s vision of accessible healthcare for all.
This ambitious project, located just 15 kilometers from Oaxaca City and known in the local Mixtec language as Ñuu Tata, aims to shift healthcare from being a profit-driven enterprise to recognizing it as a universal right, as emphasized by Sheinbaum. She highlighted that during previous administrations, healthcare infrastructure saw minimal growth, whereas her administration intends to add a substantial number of hospital beds to address pressing needs.
Since the start of enrollment in the Universal Health Service system in April, about 2 million senior citizens have signed up. The government is committed to providing free medications at these institutions, alongside ongoing efforts to enhance primary healthcare services nationwide.
IMSS Director General Zoé Robledo detailed that the new hospital will feature 530 beds for both hospitalization and emergency care, along with specialized units for adult, neonatal, and pediatric intensive care. Meanwhile, ISSSTE Director Martí Batres announced a 3.5 billion pesos investment for the new ISSSTE facility, which will be equipped with 508 beds and a helipad, ensuring comprehensive medical care for the community.
With a total expected investment of 10 billion pesos across the three hospitals, the initiative represents a significant push towards improving health services and ensuring that essential medical care is within reach for all citizens in Oaxaca.