Access to Healthcare Enhanced: The Week in Health

This week, access to healthcare was boosted by state’s decisions and market entries. While Colima moves to federalize its healthcare, the private sector welcomes a novel solution to facilitate and enhance early diagnosis of breast cancer.

Here is the week in health!

Mammogram Service Mamotest Arrives in Mexico

The Argentinian Mamotest arrives in Mexico, bringing with it the latest-generation in mammography units. Mamotest will start operations in Metepec, State of Mexico, through alliances with the Mexican Hospital Council and Reina Madre women’s clinics. Its digital platform aims to fight breast cancer in the country by offering citizens access to more effective and timely detections.

Colima Federalizes its Health Sector

Colima’s Governor Indira Vizcaíno announced the state’s incorporation into the IMSS-Bienestar program, which will put the state’s hospitals under the management of the latter. The state is the third to do so, following Tlaxcala and Nayarit.

The move is a part of the larger effort to bring access to health services to the majority of the Mexican population and comply with the country’s right to healthcare.

Health Sector’s Contribution to GDP Grows: INEGI

Medicine manufacturing represents 2.9 percent of Mexico's health sector GDP, according to INEGI’s 2020 health sector report. The institute reported that during 2020 the sector’s contribution amounted to MX$1.5 billion (US$73 million), 6.5 percent of the country’s GDP, representing a growth of 0.9 percentage points compared to 2019’s 5.6 percent.

Mexico Needs to Prioritize Research on Rare Diseases

Mexico’s need to prioritize rare diseases was the focus of this year’s Rare Disease Day. Last year, the General Health Council announced the creation of a National Census of Rare Diseases that aimed to collect information regarding their prevalence to improve treatment. But the project has been paused indefinitely. Read more about this topic in this article.

Global Warming’s Impact on Mental Health

A new study by the Boston University’s School of Public Health linked global warming to rising mental health emergencies after analyzing medical health records across the US. The study found an 8 percent rise in the rate of emergency mental health hospital visits during days of extreme heat.

Telemedicine Trust, Funding

A study by McKinsey found that while telemedicine is being widely accepted and adopted by patients, medical professionals still doubt this digital solution. “While two-thirds of physicians and 60 percent of patients said they agreed that virtual health is more convenient than in-person care for patients, only 36 percent of physicians find it more convenient for themselves,” states the study.

Nonetheless, telemedicine investment is on the rise. In 2021, equity funding to telemedicine companies reached nearly US$18 billion, a 57 billion increase from 2020’s total.