INR Signs Deal for Free Care: Over 100,000 Disabled to Benefit!

MEXICO CITY (apro) – Over 8.8 million people with disabilities reside in Mexico, with visual, motor, and auditory limitations being among the most common, many of which persist even with the use of support devices, reported Carlos Javier Pineda Villaseñor, director of the National Institute of Rehabilitation “Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra” (INRLGII) of the Federal Health Secretariat (SSA). 

This was stated during the signing of a collaboration agreement between the INR and the Administration of Public Charity Property (APBP) which, according to its officials, will provide free medical care to over 100,000 disabled people throughout 2025. 

In a press release, the SSA detailed that as part of this agreement, 350 million pesos will be invested in medical devices “with a personalized approach and based on scientific evidence.” Prosthetics, hearing aids, cochlear implants, wheelchairs, and other medical devices will be distributed. 

The aim of the agreement, added Pineda Villaseñor, is to extend access to specialized health services and enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities nationwide. He emphasized the “essential” move towards a model of comprehensive and personalized care to meet the actual needs of this population. 

José Alfredo Cordero Esquivel, General Director of the APBP, highlighted that the agreement represents a “strategic investment with a social focus, aimed at closing historic gaps in health access.” 

Marta Margarita Zapata Tarrés, head of the Coordinating Commission of National Health Institutes and High Specialty Hospitals (CCINSHAE), pointed out that this partnership reflects the “transformative direction” of the Mexican health system where collaboration between public institutions, civil society, and international organizations will be key to ensuring the sustainability of the model. 

The Agreement 

The SSA reported that the agreement was signed during the National Meeting of Public Charities and Similar Institutions 2025, with the participation of federal and state authorities, representatives from the National System for Integral Family Development (DIF), and civil society organizations.  

The structure of this agreement includes four main pillars:  

• Scientific validation of the medical devices by INRLGII 
• Standardization of clinical protocols nationwide 
• Development of a territorial diagnosis to identify gaps in infrastructure and specialized personnel 
• Ongoing training for medical and paramedical staff of state charities. 

According to the agreement, the INRLGII will act as a technical and consulting body for the APBP, while the latter will provide the necessary medical equipment, share relevant epidemiological information, cover operational costs, and promote clinical improvements suggested by specialists. 

The SSA emphasized that this agreement “aims to facilitate the reintegration of people with disabilities into family, social, and productive life. By transforming their environment, it also strengthens the social fabric, reduces the burden on assistance systems, and contributes to the country’s economic development”.