In a speech at the 98th Ordinary General Assembly of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), President Felipe Calderón expressed his pleasure at being able to attend the assembly and personally congratulate the IMSS, as well as all IMSS workers, for providing health services to millions of workers. He also congratulated members of the Social Security Units who won the IMSS Quality Award.
The president went on to explain that the IMSS was created in 1943 to provide medical insurance for workers and their families. Since then, however, it has experienced a number of financial problems that jeopardize its continued existence. In order to ensure IMSS continuity, the president called upon all involved to propose solutions. He also instructed the IMSS Director General to continuing raising the standards of care for its members, and he urged businessmen to pay their Social Security dues punctually. The president ended by saying, “My government is firmly committed to supporting the workers of Mexico, reinforcing the IMSS, and ensuring its service for many, many years.”
* MexiData.info note: The IMSS financial situation is more serious than suggested by the glossed over English excerpts from the President’s speech, which has been known for some time. The following is an additional snippet from the same speech (in Spanish): “Today, however, after more than 60 years, the IMSS is in peril, in serious danger, and it needs all of our support, and all of our solidarity and understanding…. We are hearing blunt data and figures from different delegations of the Institute that leave no room for doubt — the present day situation is alarming.”