The director of the Institute of Social Security and Services for State Workers (ISSSTE), Luis Antonio Ramírez Pineda, acknowledged that the institute under his charge maintains various shortcomings, including the lack of medications and sufficient capacity to serve the number of beneficiaries.
When appearing before the United Social Security and Health commissions of the Chamber of Deputies, the official also expressed concern about the possible arrival of a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections.
In meeting with federal legislators, the director general of the ISSSTE He highlighted that in three years of government, the Institute under his charge has invested around 3,959 million pesos in equipment, maintenance and medical infrastructure throughout the country for the benefit of 13.5 million beneficiaries.
However, in the face of questions from legislators about “negligence, lack of capacity, infrastructure and adequate medical equipment” to provide better care and service, Ramírez Pineda acknowledged that, “unfortunately, we have a vast infrastructure already far exceeded, we do not have sufficient capacity to attend to the number of beneficiaries ”.
This after explaining that when the medical units were planned it seemed that they omitted that the population was going to age or they omitted that the population was going to grow.
Likewise, the federal official regretted that there are not enough suppliers, construction companies at the local level, at the regional level that offer the services that the institute requires, indicating that 90% of the ISSSTE infrastructure has problems with the electrical and plumbing systems, ” because it was never invested in maintenance and conservation ”.
In addition to recognizing that there is a great problem that has to do with personnel, “we need personnel so that we can also complete the templates,” he said.
Likewise, as a result of the questioning of the deputy of the FART, Olga Luz Espinosa, on the lack of medicines in the health units ofl ISSSTE, which affects his heirs, Ramírez Pineda said that the ISSSTE it has paid in advance 7,000 million pesos for the acquisition of medicines.
However, he said that just as President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has expressed, “as long as we do not have 100% supply, we are not satisfied, we will continue to make every effort to guarantee it, we recognize that we need it but on that path we’re”.
Regarding cancer care for girls and boys, the federal official pointed out that the supply of medicines is guaranteed at the Institute. Reported that the ISSSTE It has contracted 121 new cancer drugs, where 3,000 million pesos were spent, which represents 13% more than last year.
He explained that there are currently 39,500 cancer patients, in 2020 more than 200,000 chemotherapy sessions were carried out, 32,000 radiotherapies. In addition, there are 172 medical oncologists, 32 surgical oncologists, seven pediatric oncologists, 52 hematologists, and 239 nurses.
Meanwhile, Ramírez Pineda, also indicated that because the Covid-19 continues, the body in charge remains concerned about a fourth wave of infections, so the Institute is prepared, “we have the 114 hospitals ready to be able to return them to reconvert; Fortunately, there is a greater knowledge of the virus and this helps because doctors, nurses and health personnel have more information, knowledge, they have better protective equipment. We are going to implement a renewed campaign of care among health workers to prevent them from returning to their homes, that they do not become infected ”.
He commented that while there is still the obligation to have beds Covid In hospitals, it is very difficult to carry out infrastructure expansion works because it has to ensure that there is this provision of care.
On another issue, he also asserted that, as of today, the ISSSTE is generating a collection of almost 100 billion pesos, 20% higher than the previous administration; In addition, there is a financial reserve of 120 billion pesos.
Finally, the head of the ISSSTE said that 70% of the institution’s budget goes to pensions, and only 17% to health, 1.4 to social and cultural benefits, and 1.3% to insurance for work risks.
This after explaining that pension spending has increased significantly, in 2010, the ISSSTE paid 92,000 million pesos, as of today more than 279,000 million pesos of pensions are being paid. “As of today, there are 301,486 retirees and pensioners who also receive the universal pension for the elderly,” he added.
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Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx