Maternal mortality is a problem largely affecting women in marginalised conditions. Reducing it has become a worldwide priority as part of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations (UN).
As part of the strategies implemented by IMSS-BIENESTAR to reduce maternal mortality in rural areas, in 2006 the Expert Council of the Mexican Social Security Institute (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social – IMSS) authorised granting medical care in second- and third-tier hospitals of the compulsory system to beneficiaries of the IMSS-BIENESTAR programme for care during birth and newborn babies in cases of high risk and surgical medical emergencies deriving from complications in pregnancy, birth and/or puerperium putting the mother and new-born baby at risk.
The strategy has had a great impact, reducing maternal mortality in rural and indigenous communities by granting free access to highly specialist medical care in order to preserve lives and the right to health for the most vulnerable and defenceless women in the country.