Mexico
In Mexico, healthcare is offered by a combination of private organizations, private doctors, and public or nonprofit institutions. There is a public healthcare system offered by the Mexican Federal Government that offers universal coverage for Mexican citizens. Under this system, most medical services are subsidized or offered free of cost by the federal government and employment status is not a requirement of care. Additionally, privately employed Mexicans are eligible for a healthcare program offered by the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). Those working for the public sector must obtain this service from the Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers (ISSSTE). However, those that can afford to pay for private healthcare services often do.
Healthcare Spending
Healthcare spending in Mexico is extremely low. In 2012, 6.2% of the national GDP was spent on healthcare costs, which amounts to $1062 USD per capita, according to research compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO). When ranked against other countries, Mexico is 97th for healthcare spending; a figure that is lower than every other Central American nation except for Belize. Public sources account for 45.5% of healthcare spending, while only 3.1% of expenses are paid for by private insurance companies.
Availability of Care
In Mexico, there are 2.1 doctors for every one thousand citizens. That figure is actually higher than the average across the Americas and it is indeed higher than some industrialized North American nations, such as Canada. However, Mexico has a severe shortage of nurses and midwives. There are only 2.53 nurses and/or midwives per one thousand people; a number which is slightly more than half of the regional average of 4.58 nurses and midwives per one thousand people.
Life Expectancy & Mortality
In 2012, the average life expectancy in Mexico was 77.14 years, a figure that is slightly below that of the United States at 78.74 years. Mexico ranks 94th in the world with respect to life expectancy. It is believed that high instances of often preventable non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and chronic respiratory illnesses, contribute to Mexico’s life expectancy being lower than that of similar countries, such as Costa Rica and Panama. Non-communicable diseases account for 77% of all deaths in Mexico, while injuries account for 12% and communicable diseases account for 11% of all deaths.
Other Issues
Healthcare in Mexico is described as highly affordable and the quality is said to be on par with that of the United States, as many doctors receive their medical training there and vice versa. However, one of the main challenges facing the healthcare system in Mexico is equitable care. The National Institute of Health (NIH) estimates that 40 million Mexicans have incomes below the poverty line, and in such cases, they face extreme inequities in gaining access to quality healthcare. Living conditions vary hugely from region to region in Mexico, for instance a child born in a native region in the state of Chihuahua has 17 years’ less life expectancy that a child born in the city of Monterey in Nuevo Leon in northern Mexico. These discrepancies are crucial areas of future development for the Mexican healthcare system.