Hospitals: Improving Health System Performance in Mexico

Mexican hospitals face significant challenges, including inadequate infrastructure and a severe shortage of medical personnel. While adopting innovative technologies is crucial for improving service efficiency and patient outcomes, systemic changes are necessary to address the country’s healthcare needs comprehensively, argue industry experts.

The global shortage of healthcare workers is a major barrier to achieving health and development goals, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Mexico’s healthcare system ranks below the OECD average, with a 28% deficit in doctors and a 68% shortfall in nurses, as reported by México Evalúa. This shortage strains hospitals, leading to overwhelming workloads and burnout among healthcare workers. "A deficit of doctors and nurses strains the system to a breaking point. Without addressing this shortage, our medical professionals face an overwhelming workload, which impacts patient care," says Patrick Devlyn, President of the Health Commission, CCE.

Diana Cuevas, President, Mexican Council of Medical Tourism, stresses the importance of transparency in healthcare funding. "Transparency in healthcare funding is essential to ensure resources are properly used, especially in retaining medical talent," she says. Cuevas highlights that the trend of medical personnel resignations in the United States presents an opportunity for Mexico to expand its medical tourism industry. However, to fully capitalize on this opportunity, Mexico must not only improve retention strategies but also embrace technological advances that support medical professionals, adds Cuevas.

Even if hospitals manage to retail medical personnel, limited time per patient puts significant constraints on healthcare quality, says João Carapeto, Director General, Roche Diagnostics Mexico. “The lack of time impacts care quality. We need to improve healthcare personnel efficiency through technology,” Carapeto said. 

Under this scenario, technology can help alleviate heavy workloads in the healthcare sector. “Embracing digital solutions is essential for optimizing patient care and reducing staff burnout,” says Valeria Sánchez, Director General, APEC Hospital de la Ceguera. Despite these potential benefits, Mexican hospitals still rely on outdated methods, such as using pencil and paper for patient records and scheduling, according to Cero.ai.

Besides the need for technological integration, system fragmentation is a major obstacle, says Jorge Meléndez, General Director, INMEGEN. Fragmentation occurs when public, private, and specialized sectors fail to work together, leading to inefficiencies and gaps in patient care. "System fragmentation is a significant challenge. To enhance healthcare in Mexico, we need a coordinated approach that streamlines care delivery across the entire system," says Meléndez.

As Mexico confronts significant challenges, including infrastructure deficiencies and severe shortages of medical personnel, it has become evident that a multifaceted approach is essential.