Sinaloa Pediatric Hospital Performs Transplants

IMSS-Bienestar now enables organ transplants and surgeries for congenital heart defects in children without social security access at the Pediatric Hospital of Sinaloa, Mexico. Over the past two years, the transfer of state health services to IMSS-Bienestar has strengthened medical care in the state. The Sinaloa Cancer Institute, equipped with three radiotherapy machines, now has agreements with national social security institutions to serve their members.

Roughly half of the radiotherapy patients are now affiliated with these institutions. The institute recently acquired Elekta brand radiotherapy equipment, allowing for more targeted treatment and fewer side effects. Maintaining this advanced equipment requires ongoing administrative work, however.

The hospital has 106 beds and recently obtained licenses for organ procurement and transplants. Doctors are currently preparing two children with congenital renal disease for kidney replacement, and plan to perform six such surgeries this year.

They have also completed 120 interventions for congenital heart conditions, with no waiting list for newborns identified through cardiac screening. Further research is needed to address the rising cancer incidence in the region.