Baja California Sur Governor Víctor Castro Cosío publicly acknowledged medication supply shortfalls at IMSS Bienestar facilities across the state during a recent interview. Castro Cosío said his administration is working to push drug availability “to the highest percentage possible” and plans to summon health sector leaders to identify and fix the problems.
IMSS Bienestar (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social Bienestar) is the federal program that provides free health care, including medications, to residents without employer-based insurance. In Baja California Sur, the program operates 67 medical units across all five municipalities: 58 health centers, five general hospitals in San José del Cabo, Cabo San Lucas, Ciudad Constitución, Loreto, and Santa Rosalía, and the third-level Hospital Juan María de Salvatierra in La Paz.
Governor Plans Meeting With Health Officials
Castro Cosío said he will call a meeting with IMSS Bienestar officials and state health leaders to review “areas of opportunity.” The governor told reporters, “I am going to summon all those responsible” to examine where the system is falling short. The admission is notable because the state government had previously emphasized gradual improvements in prescription fulfillment rates.
Drug supply problems at IMSS Bienestar are not unique to BCS. In November 2025, Baja California’s health secretary, José Adrián Medina Amarillas, made a similar admission, acknowledging that IMSS Bienestar had recognized inconsistencies in its own deliveries to hospitals and clinics statewide. Both states have had to prioritize medications for critical areas like emergency rooms, operating rooms, and intensive care units.
Surgery Backlog and New Hospital for Los Cabos
Beyond the drug shortage, Castro Cosío flagged a backlog of delayed surgeries that his administration is working to clear. He did not provide specific numbers but described it as a priority. The governor also announced plans for a new hospital in Los Cabos to replace an aging facility and said air conditioning repairs are underway at Hospital Salvatierra in La Paz, the state’s top-level public hospital.
IMSS Bienestar was designed to serve roughly 250,000 BCS residents who lack access to employer-provided health coverage. The program’s rollout in the state included a formal transition agreement signed between federal and state authorities. Castro Cosío also mentioned his government’s continued coordination with collectives searching for missing persons, pointing to broader institutional strain across the state’s health and security systems.
The governor’s comments were first reported by BCS Noticias on May 18.