A gezunt ahf dein kop
During the past month, we have had a close-up look at one of Mexico’s public hospitals, from the point of view of the end-user. This was not a research project: A close family member suffered a sudden critical health crisis and was rushed to the nearest regional medical center, where he remains in a delicate state. In the process, other family members have spent many hours at the hospital to assist in the patient’s care, discuss his condition with doctors and nurses, provide medical records and file documents, and ask questions through little circular holes in glass windows. Although the experience has been stressful, we feel compelled to report that we have been favorably impressed with the quality of infrastructure and care at the public hospital.
Mexico is served by a mixed health care system, with private hospitals and specialized service providers available to those who can afford it, and a nationwide network of public hospitals and clinics for everyone else. The largest piece of this network is the Mexican Social Security Institute, known as the IMSS. Founded in 1943, the IMSS has grown into a colossal operation, operating some 1,500 clinics, 230 hospitals and 25 medical specialty centers. The agency employs over 370,000 and provides health coverage for over 52 million beneficiaries, according to the National Statistics Institute (INEGI). The IMSS is consistently the target of criticism for a range of deficiencies and in recent years has struggled with rapidly encroaching insolvency. Nonetheless, for millions of Mexicans, and particularly the poor, it remains a lifeline for health care. Read the rest of this entry »
