The future of the IMSS-Bienestar Program is uncertain following its exclusion from the 2025 Federal Income Budget (PEF) and the lack of clarity regarding its continuation. Currently, the program is still operational with resources from the IMSS operational reserves, approved for a period of three months. However, beyond March, the uncertainty about its operation remains critical.
The lack of budget allocation for the program prevents the publication of its operating rules in the Federal Official Gazette, leading to severe administrative problems. Without a valid regulatory framework, the IMSS-Bienestar Program faces obstacles in exercising resources, hiring personnel, acquiring supplies, and fulfilling the benefits for retired staff.
In this scenario, workers have expressed concern about their job stability and the risk of entering a labor limbo. With a budget of 21 billion pesos in 2024 to provide medical care to 11 million Mexicans in marginalized rural areas, the lack of clarity regarding its future endangers the continuity of health services in communities that rely exclusively on this program.
One proposed option is to integrate the IMSS-Bienestar Program into the Ordinary IMSS or the Decentralized Public Body IMSS-Bienestar. However, this decision poses administrative challenges and the need for legal changes that remain unclear from the authority. The absence of a clear legal framework could prolong uncertainty, affecting both workers and users.
The IMSS Union plays a crucial role in this scenario, considering that the program's staff already belong to this organization. The labor and operational stability of the program requires urgent clarification before resources run out in March. The current uncertainty raises legitimate concerns about the future of workers and the millions of users who depend on these health services.
