title: [The health system of Mexico].
abstract: This paper describes the Mexican health system. In part one, the health conditions of the Mexican population are discussed, with emphasis in those emerging diseases that are now the main causes of death, both in men and women: diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases and cancer. Part two is devoted to the description of the basic structure of the system: its main institutions, the population coverage, the health benefits of those affiliated to the different heath institutions, its financial sources, the levels of financial protection in health, the availability of physical, material and human resources for health, and the stewardship functions displayed by the Ministry of Health and other actors. This part also discusses the role of citizens in the monitorization and evaluation of the health system, as well as the levels of satisfaction with the rendered health services. In part three the most recent innovations and its impact on the performance of the health system are discussed. Salient among them are the System of Social Protection in Health and the Popular Health Insurance. The paper concludes with a brief analysis of the short- and middle-term challenges faced by the Mexican health system.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Sistemas de Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Morelos. México. ocogomez@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Octavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gómez Dantés
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sesma
authors.forename: Victor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Becerril
authors.forename: Felicia M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Knaul
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arreola
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frenk
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003710:Demography; D005381:Financing, Organized / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006078:Government Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006295:Health Resources / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006298:Health Services Administration / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007342:Insurance Benefits / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008800:Mexico; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D017149:Private Sector / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012943:Social Security / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014798:Vital Statistics