Mexico Health Summit, Universal Coverage: The Week in Health

Mexico took a step forward in the universalization of healthcare services through the constitution of IMSS-Bienestar as a decentralized public body of the Federal Public Administration with its own assets and technical, operational and management autonomy. This change aims to provide medical and hospital care to those not affiliated to any social security institution, while allowing for progressive, effective, timely, quality and non-discriminatory access to care for those who meet its requirements.

Here is the Week in Health!

Mexico Health Summit 2022 ECHO

Mexico Health Summit 2022 ECHO took place last week on a hybrid two-day modality where leaders of the industry met to discuss the most relevant subjects for the country’s healthcare sector. Private and public providers touched on many present and future trends that can be revisited here.

IMSS-Bienestar Is Officially Constituted

The Official Journal of the Federation (DOF) reported the creation of the decentralized public agency of Health Services of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS-Bienestar) through an official decree by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Aug. 31, 2022.

Pre-Pandemic Healthcare Levels Remain Low

Resuming attention to essential health services has been one of the primary efforts of care providers in 2022. While strategies have been pursued to close this gap, the Mexican public health sector still reports a 25 percent decrease in consultations and surgeries compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Lack of Basic Hygiene Services Affects Numerous Health Facilities

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) found that half of healthcare facilities around the world lack water, soap or alcohol disinfectants. These gaps put around 3.85 billion people at a greater risk of infection, including the 688 million people who receive healthcare at facilities that do not possess any hygiene services.

Three out of 10 Women in Mexico Experience Obstetric Violence

Of the almost 8 million women who had children between 2016 and 2021, over 2 million were victims of obstetric violence, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). This includes practices such as unjustified cesarean sections, forced sterilization, delay in emergency medical care, psychological violence, discrimination, verbal abuse and dehumanized treatment, reported feminist organization GIRE.

Analysis of the Week

A deep dive on the most relevant subjects of the healthcare sector:

• State of the Mexican Health Industry in 2022
• Patient Centricity Still a Work in Progress
• Chronic Disease Diagnosis Essential for Better Outcomes
• Data: Key Asset for Healthcare Improvement
• Pharmacoeconomics: Innovation and Access in Mexico

Experts of the Week

• Pharmacogenomics: Right Drug, Right Patient, Right Dose - Gustavo Rodríguez Leal, CEO, nutriADN
• Telework and Mental Health: Sighting of New Regulations - Jorge Merida Puga, Director General, Advisory Network for Wellbeing
• Digital Medical Guidance and its Positive Impact on Health - Nathan Shabot, Managing Partner, LIP Ventures Boutique
• What If Our Strength Came from Chaos? - Gilda D’Incerti, Founder and CEO, PQE Group