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By THE PULSE NEWS MEXICO STAFF

In the face of growing demand for medical care and hospitalizations due to the mounting coronavirus pandemic, the Mexican government signed an agreement on Monday, April 13, with major private hospitals to allow government institutions to use up to half of their hospital beds over the course of the next month.

Under the agreement, which was signed by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) and National Private Hospital Association president Mario González Olloa during a press conference at the National Palace, patients covered by the National Social Security Institute (IMSS), the National Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers (ISSSTE), the Institute of Health and Wellbeing (Insabi), Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and the military (Sedena and the Marina) will be able to seek medical attention for a variety of non-Covid-19 conditions free of charge at the participating private institutions.

The agreement will take effect April 23 and run through May 23, which is believed to be the period during which Covid-19 infections will peak in Mexico.

Among the participating hospitals are the Beneficencia Española, the ABC Medical Center, Hospitales Ángeles, Dalinde, San Ángel Inn, Christus Muguerza, MAC, San Javier, Star Médica, Médica Sur, Grupo Torre Médica, Clínica del Noroeste, Cemain and Hospitales de María y Ginequito.

In total, the country’s private hospitals are offering up to 3,115 beds to the government.

As a result, the government will be able to free up 12,500 beds to attend to Covid-19 patients.

Covid patients with private hospital insurance will be attended to at private hospitals.