The Mexican Chamber of Deputies approved a reform to the Organic Law of the Federal Public Administration, allowing the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) to participate in infrastructure projects related to health services. The bill was approved in the early morning hours with 423 votes in favor, 37 against, and no abstentions, and it stems from an initiative presented by President Claudia Sheinbaum. This measure aims to strengthen the country's health infrastructure. The federal executive branch will have a 180-day period to make the necessary regulatory adjustments. During the discussion, lawmakers from different parliamentary groups took opposing stances on the scope and feasibility of the reform. Deputy from MORENA Sandra Patricia Palacios Medina stated that the measure will strengthen the country's health infrastructure. "Today we are responding to the people, we are responding to the demand for dignified health," she said, noting that SICT's participation will contribute to having more clinics, hospitals, and better-equipped medical units. On the other hand, PAN deputy Gerardo Ponce de León Valdés expressed reservations about the initiative, warning that it lacks clear operational definitions. He noted that while his parliamentary group supports the bill, "it is not known how it will operate in reality, 'where the cracks appear,'" and proposed the need to establish precise rules for the dependency's participation and the assignment of responsibilities. PT deputy José Luis Sánchez González linked the reform to the strategy of universalizing health services, which will allow the population to be treated in different public institutions. After its approval in San Lázaro, the document was sent to the Senate for analysis and eventual ratification. The amendment incorporates a clause into article 36 of the said law, empowering SICT, at the request of competent federal authorities, to intervene in the construction, equipment, rehabilitation, reinforcement, reconstruction, replacement, expansion, and commissioning of public works related to health infrastructure. These actions must be carried out in coordination with the three levels of government. The decree states that its implementation will not imply additional resources, as the expenditures will be covered by the already approved budget for SICT. It indicated that this process will begin on April 13 in 24 federal entities. However, PRI deputy Miguel Alonso Reyes warned about the risks of assigning these functions to SICT, considering that it lacks specialization in health matters. After the approval of the electoral 'Plan B', the Chamber of Deputies approved a reform to the Organic Law of the Federal Public Administration that will allow the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) to participate in infrastructure projects related to health services. The bill was approved in the early morning hours with 423 votes in favor, 37 against, and no abstentions, and it stems from an initiative presented by President Claudia Sheinbaum. "It is not a secretariat specialized in public health, nor does it have the clinical knowledge to identify real needs," she stated, adding that the measure could lead to "lower quality work or untimely execution." Meanwhile, EM deputy Miguel Ángel Sánchez Rivera agreed on the need to expand hospital infrastructure, but emphasized that building facilities is not enough. "Because it is useless to build a building if it cannot provide a service," he said, insisting on the importance of adequate equipment and coordination with states and municipalities. During the session, the president of the Board of Directors, Kenia López Rabadán, instructed that the reservations not presented in the plenary be incorporated in full in the Diary of Debates. At 3:30 in the morning, she adjourned the session and called the next meeting for Tuesday, April 14, at 11:00, in person.
