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before starting the present article we want to put into practice the right to question that my dear readers have demanded. It is time to ask ourselves if everything that is happening in our country is a sign that we are on the right path. Let us not forget that our society is not perfect and no system fully guarantees the well-being of society.
Today we give our opinion about the health system. Although we have already done it on other occasions, it is important not to stop analyzing and questioning what is still under construction, and about what has already been built. It is our citizen obligation to remain alert so that what has already been achieved is preserved and we do not allow it to collapse. We had a period in Mexico where the IMSS and ISSSTE were a pillar and guarantee of good medical care, or at least they worked better than before the neoliberal era. We are not saying with this that the current government is making a mistake in its public policies in this area. On the contrary, they are trying to rescue what was falling apart.
Rome was not built in a day, a famous phrase that reminds us how difficult it is to apply a system to build a society. Therefore, it is important that, as citizens, we denounce the deficiencies of the current system and the diversions of resources, whether due to corruption or irresponsibility. Let us give our opinion and contribute ideas to maintain the proper functioning of our institutions.
Alternatives other than allopathy or conventional medicine in Mexico, for many years were abandoned, ignored, even reduced to home practices, as if they had no historical place in our daily lives in the search for relief from ailments. The techniques of homeopathy, herbalism, acupuncture and other equally scientific alternatives have shown great effectiveness, however, they are outside the current public health scheme. It is clear that large pharmaceutical companies have taken it upon themselves to not allow their growth and official integration into our general health system.
Regarding the existence of the ISSSTE, IMSS, Ministry of Health and all free official bodies, let us not forget that they are the result of long social struggles to obtain this right. It is true that they have been a lifeline for millions of patients, but the great deficiencies that we have been suffering for six years ago confront us with a paradox: supporting while demanding. Not only to receive sufficient care, but also so that health in Mexico does not collapse. It’s not just anything. The personnel hired to safeguard the physical integrity of the user population have a great responsibility in their hands, although the current deficiencies and the damage caused show us that they have not realized such a task. Our readers’ question is, has the health system been efficient with this new government? We emphasize that this questioning is not an accusation, it is a reflection.
We reiterate, the health system is in the process of transformation, but we continue to suffer from the unprofessional behavior of countless administrative workers and medical personnel, who do not assume that the country is changing. This is where we come across reality: there were years of abandonment and criminal looting of the aforementioned institutions, which is why no progress was made in the search for fluid care adjusted to the great current needs. A high percentage of staff does not want to change; neoliberal attitudes prevail, distancing themselves from the commitment for which they were hired; Everyone fulfills their work schedule mechanically, without attending to the demands of the users. Of course, there are exceptions. With great ease, due to the absence of the doctor, they leave already scheduled patients without consultation, which generates great danger for patients, by not having emergency personnel. To receive specialized consultation, the wait is months, having to endure the condition. When faced with the complaint, the official’s response is “and what do you want me to do?” This is the result of the enormous deficiencies of the governments before 2018. Although we already have a greater quantity and variety of medicines, with new equipment and hospitals, the changes seem non-existent due to the same old school practices. The hiring of specialists and family medicine is urgent. Until when will the excellence in medical care that the 4T aims for arrive? We have the right to more precise diagnoses and personalized treatments, in addition to addressing the emotional state of each patient, which is generally not taken into account. The government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador began with key and clear proposals and strategies. Today, in 2025, we can assure that the health system has advanced, but not in the way we need and want. Sometimes, the situation forces us to spend on private medical care, when we have a constitutional right to free medical care. And here comes a key question: who is failing at this moment, the government or the institutions with their backward system?
The goals that the 4T governments have set are enormous and fair, but it is necessary to raise awareness among the general staff of the health sector. Or we would have to act like John Q, a character from the movie extreme situation from 2002, played by Denzel Washington, directed by Nick Cassavetes, in which the protagonist is forced to make violent decisions so that his son, who is about to die, is cared for. This happens in a deplorable health system like that of the United States. Or, will we have to go to the extreme of replacing bureaucratic personnel with artificial intelligence, denying the right to work to people who are responsible and professional? We do not believe it nor do we wish it.
(Ruxi Mendieta collaborated)
“For Ximena Guzmán Cuevas and José Muñoz Vega, justice will come”.
