In Mexico, while officials are getting rich, the country falls in international corruption rankings. At the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), multimillion-dollar payments have been authorized with digital signatures without control or validation, allowing suppliers to charge without accountability. Furthermore, IMSS staff are unaware of the terms and conditions of subcontracted service contracts, which prevents sanctions from being applied in case of breaches.
The Superior Audit Office of the Federation (ASF) found numerous irregularities at the IMSS, including contracts without supporting documents, payments without proper verification, and lack of control in bidding processes. 122 payment receipts for laboratory services totaling 301.6 million pesos were found without justification. The IMSS control and supervision system proved to be non-existent, resulting in a possible damage to the treasury of over 1.2 billion.
The IMSS spent over 5.7 billion pesos on subcontracted services, despite promises from its head, Zoé Robledo, to eliminate them. The lack of control and transparency in these payments allowed for diversions and possible fraud. The situation is worsened by the mismatch between accounting and budget records, generating a difference of 135.3 million pesos without justification.
Corruption at the IMSS was also evidenced by contracts awarded through direct awarding to companies on the brink of bankruptcy, such as Casa Plarre, which massively laid off its workers without severance. These practices put medical care at risk and demonstrate the lack of oversight and control at the Mexican Social Security Institute.
These facts reveal how corruption and impunity are entrenched in Mexican institutions, contributing to a low rating in the Corruption Perception Index. It is necessary for authorities to investigate these cases and apply the corresponding sanctions to ensure transparency and the proper use of public resources at the IMSS.
