Background on the Issue
Ethos, a civil organization focused on public policy, has analyzed the proposed federal budget for health in 2026. The analysis reveals that the budget continues to overlook the uninsured population, which lacks social security.
Proposed Health Budget Details
The Proyecto de Presupuesto de Egresos de la Federación (PPEF) 2026 proposes a health budget of 996,254 million pesos. This includes resources for the Secretary of Health, IMSS-Bienestar, FASSA, and other health programs such as Salud casa por casa (Bienestar), medical services for Pemex personnel, and research & development in health technology (IMSS and ISSSTE).
Growth and Allocation
If approved, the health budget will grow by 5.9% annually; however, it represents only 2.6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), far below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation of 6%.
IMSS and IMSS-Bienestar Funding
Ethos explains that the increase in health budget spending is mainly due to the proposed increment for IMSS health programs, which amount to 557,232 million pesos—an 11.7% increase from the 2025 budget.
Disparity in Beneficiaries
The organization highlights that this increment primarily benefits those with social security, as the uninsured population is mainly served by the Secretary of Health and IMSS-Bienestar, which receive fewer resources.
IMSS-Bienestar and Secretary of Health Funding
The PPEF 2026 proposes a budget of 172,492 million pesos for IMSS-Bienestar (0.8% more than in 2025) and 66,826 million pesos for the Secretary of Health (3.2% less annually).
Impact on Vulnerable Population
Ethos asserts that, despite the growing health budget, its design prioritizes those with existing social security, leaving preventive services and care for the uninsured population—the most vulnerable group—lagging behind.
According to the latest Multidimensional Poverty Measurement, 34 out of every 100 people in Mexico lack access to health services, equating to 44.5 million individuals.
Insufficient Resources for Prevention Programs
The analysis indicates that the Secretary of Health’s budget is decreasing for 2026 because no resources were projected for ten programs within the institution. These programs focus on chronic disease prevention, HIV, medical personnel training, and social health infrastructure.
Program Impact
Ethos notes that while direct patient care is strengthened, preventive programs and services for the uninsured population are weakened. The organization also acknowledges a 93.3% increase in the Salud casa por casa program, which aims to bolster primary care for people with limited mobility, older adults, and those with disabilities.
However, Ethos points out that the program’s scale remains small compared to the overall budget, with proposed resources totaling only 4,000 million pesos against a total expenditure of 10.1 billion pesos.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the proposed health budget for 2026? The proposed health budget for 2026 is 996,254 million pesos.
- How does this budget compare to the WHO recommendation? The proposed health budget represents only 2.6% of the GDP, which is below the WHO’s recommended 6%.
- Which population segments benefit from the proposed budget? The proposed budget primarily benefits those with social security, while the uninsured population—lacking access to health services—receives fewer resources.
- What is the impact on preventive health programs? Despite the growing budget, direct care is strengthened while preventive programs and services for the uninsured population are left lagging.
- What is the status of prevention programs in the Secretary of Health’s budget? The Secretary of Health’s budget for 2026 is decreasing due to the absence of resources for ten essential programs focused on prevention and health infrastructure.
