Mexico to open 12,750 primary care clinics by 2027

President Claudia Sheinbaum signed a decree on August 25, 2026, to create 12,750 new primary care clinics under the Universal Health Service, set to begin operations in January 2027 across 24 states where IMSS-Bienestar operates. The initiative aims to add 40 million consultations annually and provide access to 90 types of free medications Source: Excelsior.

Implementation

Community Health Committees, formed from September 14, 2026, will manage clinic adaptation, similar to the "La Clínica es Nuestra" program. A recruitment drive for medical staff runs from September 14 to October 31, 2026, with salaries up to 20,000 pesos Source: Excelsior. Clinics will operate weekdays from 8:00 to 20:00 and weekends from 8:00 to 14:00 Source: El Heraldo.

State distribution

The clinics will be distributed unevenly: Chiapas will receive 1,312, Veracruz 1,298, Oaxaca 1,236, and the State of Mexico 905, making it the fourth-highest Source: Milenio. The network includes 7,111 rural and 5,369 urban clinics Source: Milenio.

Related programs

Starting September 1, 2026, the government will gradually open 6,567 Farmacias del Bienestar across the same 24 states, including 5,500 modules in Alimentación para el Bienestar stores and 1,000 vending machines Source: Infobae. Nurses will be able to prescribe 22 medications for mild and chronic conditions Source: Excelsior. A single health credential will allow access to IMSS, ISSSTE, and IMSS-Bienestar services from January 2027 Source: Milenio.