Workers at the Sombrerete Community Hospital in Zacatecas, administered by IMSS Bienestar, began a partial work stoppage due to a lack of medicines, medical equipment, hospital supplies, and a shortage of medical staff.
Norma Castorena Berrelleza, leader of Section 39 of the National Union of Health Workers (SNTSA), announced that the Sombrerete hospital will only treat emergency patients.
She reported that hospital stability has not been achieved since this and the rest of Zacatecas’ hospitals transitioned to IMSS Bienestar in mid-2024.
She also announced that nurses at the Sombrerete Community Hospital are victims of workplace harassment and bullying by hospital management: “The treatment of healthcare workers continues to be deplorable, a situation that is intolerable.”
A nurse from Sombrerete explained that, due to the lack of medical staff, doctors on call are overwhelmed with work, meaning they are only treating the most serious emergencies and are forced to deny medical care to the rest of the patients.
Protest at Sombrerete Hospital
Efrén Berumen, union representative of the Fresnillo Subsection, stated that since Thursday afternoon, work has been “on hold,” meaning all hospital services will be suspended, except for treatment of patients requiring urgent care.
He asked for understanding, solidarity, and empathy from the population of Sombrerete, Zacatecas, and the surrounding municipalities, and insisted that the conditions for providing quality medical care are lacking.
He recalled that since February, on at least six occasions, the Health Workers Union has warned IMSS Bienestar about the lack of medical supplies and healthcare personnel:
The health authorities denigrate us, they are arrogant, trying to squeeze the healthcare workers… this hospital protest is born and grows as a result of the authorities’ ineffectiveness. Efrén Berumen, union representative of the Fresnillo Subsection
Source: oem
