Year 2000 status of MRI in Mexico.
The development of clinical magnetic resonance imaging in Mexico has followed a different course from that in the U.S. and Europe. The first clinical unit was installed in Mexico in the late 1980s at the very beginning of clinical applications worldwide. Since then, installations have proceeded at a sedate pace that now brings the installed total to 66 imagers. The largest fraction of these units (28, or 42%) is in Mexico City, with a broad distribution across the remaining 23 Mexican states. There is a noticeable increase of the number of units (20, or 30%) in the states bordering the U.S., while the states bordering nations to the south have no units. More than half the units (38, or 58%) are 0.5 T units, while a further 35% are 1.0 T or higher. Slower addition of units in Mexico relative to the U.S. is attributed to the higher fraction of public-funded hospitals and the inherent conservatism of such institutions when considering new technologies. Present public planning for health care development suggests that the coming decade will see more rapid installation of units to meet growing demand in Mexico for the latest medical technology. Experience over the past two decades indicates the need for more systematic training of technical and clinical personnel to implement these additions. The National University (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and the Metropolitan University (Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) are collaborating with diverse clinical facilities to create such a program. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:813-817.
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D003906:Developing Countries; D005544:Forecasting; D006285:Health Planning / Q000639:trends; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000639:trends*; D008800:Mexico