IMSS expands oncology infrastructure amid robotic surgery equipment issues

The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) is launching a strategy to strengthen oncology care by expanding infrastructure, renewing equipment, and training specialized personnel. The initiative aims to establish new radiotherapy centers in states including Aguascalientes, Baja California Sur, Chiapas, Coahuila, Oaxaca, Sinaloa, Tlaxcala, and Zacatecas. The goal is to reduce patient transfers and the costs associated with subcontracting services, noting that up to 70 percent of oncology patients require radiotherapy.

In a separate development regarding medical technology, the robotic operating room at Hospital General Xoco, inaugurated by President Claudia Sheinbaum and Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada, is reportedly non-functional. Despite a 525 million peso investment, the facility has been unable to utilize its robotic capabilities due to insufficient electrical capacity and a lack of specialized personnel. Medical staff have reported that attempts to power the equipment cause voltage fluctuations that risk damaging critical hospital areas. The facility has only been used 19 times, functioning solely as a conventional operating room.