Background on Zoé Robledo and His Role
Zoé Robledo, the General Director of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), has announced a national strategy to surpass 2 million surgeries by 2025 and improve the wait times for surgical procedures. His role as the head of IMSS places him at the forefront of Mexico’s public health system, making his initiatives crucial for millions of citizens.
The Need for the New Strategy
In 2024, IMSS achieved a record-breaking 1.396 million surgical procedures, with 876,000 being scheduled operations from consultations and a well-organized process, and 520,000 emergency cases addressing traumas or complications like appendicitis requiring immediate attention. However, Robledo recognized the need for improvement due to the rapid growth of IMSS’s beneficiary population, which outpaces the national growth rate at 10%.
Key Components of the Strategy
- Increase surgical productivity by 671,905 additional procedures compared to the previous year.
- Conduct hospital visits at various times to understand their needs, especially during night shifts when turnover is high.
- Implement 10 key points, including:
- Hiring surgical nurses
- Scheduling surgeries seven days a week
- Simplifying administrative processes
- Procuring surgical instruments and updating sterilization equipment
- Ensuring 100% availability of critical supplies for surgeries
- Prioritizing urgent cases based on medical criteria
- Streamlining referral processes between hospitals, especially between secondary and tertiary care levels
- Acquiring and maintaining equipment for preoperative studies
- Creating a single registry to address hospital needs promptly
- Improving communication with patients
Impact and Relevance
This strategy aims to address the decline in surgical procedures from 2012-2018 due to privatization and the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced IMSS to allocate 20,000 beds for COVID-19 treatment. By implementing these changes, Robledo seeks to ensure that IMSS can keep pace with the growing beneficiary population and provide timely surgical care.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main goal of Zoé Robledo’s strategy? The primary objective is to surpass 2 million surgeries by 2025 and improve wait times for surgical procedures.
- Why is this strategy necessary? The strategy addresses the decline in surgical procedures from 2012-2018 and the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring IMSS can cater to its rapidly growing beneficiary population.
- What are the key components of the strategy? The strategy includes hiring surgical nurses, scheduling surgeries seven days a week, simplifying administrative processes, procuring necessary equipment, prioritizing urgent cases, and improving communication with patients.
