The Mexican government is set to invest 25 billion pesos (US$1.23 billion) in the construction of seven new hospitals across seven states, significantly expanding healthcare access for nearly 3 million people. The initiative will also generate over 14,000 jobs for doctors, paramedics, and administrative staff while creating between 70,000 and 100,000 direct construction jobs and twice that number in indirect employment.

Strategic Healthcare Expansion

The hospitals, commissioned by Mexico’s social security institute (IMSS), will be built by engineers from the defense ministry (Sedena) in Nuevo León, Sonora, Morelos, Coahuila, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, and Zacatecas.

During a press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized the broader impact of the project, stating:

"So, in addition to the health benefits for beneficiaries and all Mexicans – remember, we're moving toward a unified health system – there is also the very important job creation linked to the construction of hospitals, in addition to the trains and all the infrastructure projects we will carry out this year."

IMSS director Zoé Robledo and Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla Trejo signed a collaboration agreement to formalize the construction plan.

Hospitals Ready for Construction

Robledo announced that the final designs for three hospitals have been completed, and construction will begin first on these facilities:

Santa Catarina Regional General Hospital (Nuevo León)

‍ A 260-bed hospital serving 300,000 beneficiaries. It will feature 39 specialties and medical services including MRI, CT scans, X-rays, and hemodynamics rooms. The facility will have 2,531 staff members and a 50,635m² constructed area.

San Luis Río Colorado General Hospital (Sonora)

This 120-bed hospital will serve 134,000 people, offering 28 specialties and imaging services such as MRI, CT, X-ray, and mammography. It will house 1,100 staff members and occupy 32,000m².

Yecapixtla General Hospital (Morelos)

With 90 beds, this hospital will benefit 116,000 people, providing 28 specialties along with MRI, CT, X-ray, and mammography services. It will employ 984 staff members and cover 28,805m².

Upcoming Hospital Construction

In addition to the three initial hospitals, four more facilities will commence construction later this year:

Saltillo Regional General Hospital (Coahuila)

A 260-bed hospital designed to serve 736,000 beneficiaries. It will feature 34 specialties, diagnostic imaging services, and a staff of 2,531 across a 50,241m² constructed area.

Los Cabos Regional General Hospital (Baja California Sur)

This facility will have 216 beds, serving 414,000 patients with 44 specialties. In addition to MRI, CT, and X-ray services, it will feature a breast clinic, pain clinic, gamma camera, and catheterization room. The hospital will house 2,531 staff members and have a 42,000m² constructed area on a 50,000m² site donated by the state government.

Regional General Hospital of Culiacán (Sinaloa)

Designed to accommodate 216 beds, this hospital will serve 862,000 people, offering 37 specialties and diagnostic services. The hospital will employ 2,222 staff members and span 39,616m².

Regional General Hospital of Guadalupe (Zacatecas)

With 216 beds, this hospital will benefit 319,000 people and offer 42 specialties. It will include MRI, CT, X-ray, and mammography services, staffed by 2,222 healthcare workers. The facility will be built on a 70,000m² site with a 42,000m² constructed area.

Expanding Mexico’s Healthcare Network

These new hospitals will provide primary and specialized medical care, addressing a shortage of medical facilities in these states. Robledo emphasized that the IMSS-Sedena partnership has already yielded significant progress, recalling previous collaborations on hospitals such as Zaragoza Regional General Hospital in Mexico City and San Alejandro Regional General Hospital in Puebla, which are nearing completion and set to benefit over a million people.

Additionally, in February, Sheinbaum announced that over three dozen new health centers will be inaugurated this year, reinforcing Mexico’s commitment to expanding its healthcare infrastructure.

Originally reported by Bnamericas.