The Mexican Institute of Social Security (, IMSS) is a governmental organization that assists public health, pensions and social security in Mexico operating under the Secretariat of Health. It also forms an integral part of the Mexican healthcare system.
History The IMSS was founded by Mexican President Manuel Ávila Camacho on January 19, 1943 to satisfy the legal precepts established in the Article 123 of the Mexican Constitution. It is constituted by representations of the workers, employers, and the federal government.
It is the largest social welfare institution in all Latin America.
For some time, however, there have been festering signs of trouble in IMSS, such as serious financial problems that came to a head in early November 2010.
Directors-General officeholderterm in office Vicente Santos Guajardo 1940–1944 1944–1946 Antonio Díaz Lombardo 1946–1952 Antonio Ortiz Mena 1952–1958 Benito Coquet Lagunes 1958–1964 Sealtiel Alatriste Ábrego 1964–1966 Ignacio Morones Prieto 1966–1970 Carlos Gálvez Betancourt 1970–1975 Jesús Reyes Heroles 1975–1976 Arsenio Farell Cubillas 1976–1982 Ricardo García Sainz 1982–1991 Emilio Gamboa Patrón 1991–1993 Genaro Borrego Estrada 1993–2000 Mario Luis Fuentes Alcalá 2000 Santiago Levy Algazi 2000–2005 Fernando Flores y Pérez 2005–2006 Juan Francisco Molinar Horcasitas 2006–2009 Daniel Karam Toumeh 2009–2012 José Antonio González Anaya 2012–2016 Mikel Andoni Arriola Peñalosa 2016–2017 Tufic Miguel Ortega 2017–2018 Germán Martínez Cázares 2018–2019 Zoé Robledo Aburto 2019–
Mexican Social Security Law
The Mexican Social Security law currently in effect, published in the Official Journal of the Federation (21 December 1995), is the legislative domain under which the IMSS carries out its operations.
Currently the law indicates that Social Security has the following purposes:
Medical assistance Protection of basic necessities of subsistence Social services necessary for individual and collective well-being Giving out a pension which, depending on the completion of the legal prerequisites, will be guaranteed by the State
The law contemplates two domains, an "obligatory" one (funded by individual, employer and state contributions), and a "voluntary" one (aimed at workers in household industries and self-employed professionals).
The following items are excluded from the base quoted salary: Tools of trade such as tools and clothing Savings deposits, when they are made up of a weekly, biweekly or monthly deposit equally from the worker and the employer Additional voluntary contributions Contributions to INFONAVIT Food and lodging when they are given in an onerous manner Payments in coin or cash Rewards for attendance and punctuality Overtime, within limits established by law
Further reading Flores Alvarado, A. and J.A. Moran Zenteno. The effects of the health care model of the IMSS-COPLAMAR program on the health status of the underprivileged rural population in Mexico. Mexico: Salud Pública de Mexico. 1989 (Nov–Dec 31(6):745-56.
External links IMSS website