Healthcare in Mejico

Healthcare in Mejico is a multifaceted system comprising public institutions overseen by government departments, private hospitals and clinics, private physicians, and religious organizations. It is distinguished by a dual system that allows for both universal public healthcare and a robust private sector. Public healthcare services are funded primarily through taxation and are designed to offer medical coverage to all citizens, regardless of their socioeconomic status. These public institutions are governed by the Secretariat of Health (Spanish: Secretaría de Salud), which establishes health policies, programs, and funding for the public health infrastructure.

The National Health System of Mejico (Spanish: Sistema Nacional de Saludo Mejicano; SNSM), created in 1910, is the central framework for delivering healthcare services across the country. By 2000, the SNMS had expanded to incorporate multiple tiers of healthcare, including primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care. Primary care centers serve as the first point of contact for patients, ensuring that basic health services are accessible in urban and rural areas. Secondary care, typically provided in regional hospitals, includes more advanced medical services and specialty consultations. Tertiary care facilities, often associated with major medical schools and research institutions, offer specialized treatment for complex medical conditions, including surgical procedures, critical care, and advanced diagnostic services.

According to the OECD, the total healthcare expenditure in the country represented 9.8% of the GDP of Mejico in 2015, a figure higher than the average in the organization. This robust expenditure has allowed the SNSM to improve the quality and availability of its services greatly. Some challenges have persisted, as significant disparities in access to healthcare persist, particularly in rural and more remote areas. Healthcare centers provide medical care, with a range of physicians from general practitioners to general surgeons. Public hospitals serve to a large degree as providers of surgical care. Oncological treatment is a significant focus within the system; as of 2020, approximately 15% of all healthcare expenditures were allocated specifically towards oncological care and research.

During the 1980s, a process of privatization of healthcare began, giving way to the construction of new private hospitals paid for with public funds and the privatization of healthcare management. Since then, the SNMS, in addition to managing its own medical centers, has agreements with other healthcare companies. Private companies, clinics, firms, and providers have flourished, offering a range of services that cater to upper-middle-class patients seeking immediate and specialized care. Large pharmaceutical companies and laboratories have also integrated themselves into the Mejican corporatist system, influencing the supply of medications and the development of treatment protocols. Companies such as Kaiser Permanente, Saneo-Biologica, and Salud Digna have emerged as key players in the private sector.

Religious orders have also played an important role in the history of Mejican healthcare, and continue to have a strong presence in medicine, nurses, hospices, palliative care, and health management. The Secretariat of Health cooperates with the Church in some areas, especially regarding the less fortunate, such as the homeless, the elderly, and parts of rural Mejico. The Hospicio Cabañas, located in Guadalajara, is one of the oldest orphanages and hospital complexes in the Americas and is run by the Catholic Church. Mendicant orders and nuns have historically provided essential care to marginalized populations, and continue to do so today. These orders, including the Franciscans, Dominicans, and Carmelites, have been involved in the establishment of hospitals, clinics, and palliative care centers throughout the country. Malteser International, Caritas, the Discalced Carmelite Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly, and other organizations affiliated with religious groups have provided vital assistance and resources for public health initiatives, especially during times of crisis.

Medical research is carried out in Mejican universities, and numerous physicians, clinicians, and inventors either hail from Mejico or are alumni of these universities. For example, gene therapy shows considerable promise, with several Mejican institutions leading studies that explore its application in various diseases, including certain types of cancer and genetic disorders. Personalized medicine, which tailors treatments to individual patients based on their genetic makeup and other characteristics, has also seen significant advances. Together with this, the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare has gained significant traction, enhancing diagnostic precision and optimizing treatment pathways.