title: Understanding the dynamics of the Seguro Popular de Salud policy implementation in Mexico from a complex adaptive systems perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2003, Mexico's Seguro Popular de Salud (SPS), was launched as an innovative financial mechanism implemented to channel new funds to provide health insurance to 50 million Mexicans and to reduce systemic financial inequities. The objective of this article is to understand the complexity and dynamics that contributed to the adaptation of the policy in the implementation stage, how these changes occurred, and why, from a complex and adaptive systems perspective.
  
  
  METHODS
  A complex adaptive systems (CAS) framework was used to carry out a secondary analysis of data obtained from four SPS's implementation evaluations. We first identified key actors, their roles, incentives and power, and their responses to the policy and guidelines. We then developed a causal loop diagram to disentangle the feedback dynamics associated with the modifications of the policy implementation which we then analyzed using a CAS perspective.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Implementation variations were identified in seven core design features during the first 10 years of implementation period, and in each case, the SPS's central coordination introduced modifications in response to the reactions of the different actors. We identified several CAS phenomena associated with these changes including phase transitions, network emergence, resistance to change, history dependence, and feedback loops.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings generate valuable lessons to policy implementation processes, especially those involving a monetary component, where the emergence of coping mechanisms and other CAS phenomena inevitably lead to modifications of policies and their interpretation by those who implement them. These include the difficulty of implementing strategies that aim to pool funds through solidarity among beneficiaries where the rich support the poor when there are no incentives for the rich to do so. Also, how resistance to change and history dependence can pose significant challenges to implementing changes, where the local actors use their significant power to oppose or modify these changes.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Morelos State Autonomous University, Calle Leñeros esquina Iztaccíhuatl s/n Col. Volcanes, Cuernavaca Morelos, CP 62350, Mexico.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nigenda
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Morelos State Autonomous University, Calle Leñeros esquina Iztaccíhuatl s/n Col. Volcanes, Cuernavaca Morelos, CP 62350, Mexico. luz.gonzalez@uaem.mx.
authors.forename: Luz María
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: González-Robledo
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Systems Research, National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad 655, Santa María A, Cuernavaca, CP 62100, Mexico.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Juárez-Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Health Systems and Innovation, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Taghreed
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adam
mesh_terms: D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000379:methods*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008800:Mexico; D019472:Universal Health Insurance
keywords: Causal loop diagram; Complex adaptive systems; Mexico; Seguro Popular; Stakeholder analysis; Universal health coverage