Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Health in Mexico - Statistics & Facts
As the second most populated country in Latin America and the Caribbean, Mexico has one of the largest healthcare markets in the Americas. Nonetheless, the nation is among the Latin American countries which invest the least on healthcare in relation to their gross domestic product (GDP). Even though health spending as a share of its GDP was not lower than 5.4 percent between 2010 and 2022, Mexico’s health expenditure per capita lags behind that of other emerging economies in the region, averaging to around 1,181 U.S. dollars per person, per year.
Despite the efforts put forward by authorities to diminish inequalities, and with limited resources resulting on long waiting times and constrained medical help, a percentage of the households opt for private institutions, home remedies, and homeopathy. Private alternatives go from general doctors in pharmacies, to private appointments, and more specialized services in clinics.
The Mexican healthcare system
The Mexican healthcare system is characterized by the coexistence of various private and public health schemes. Covering most of the population, the public sector is divided in two main categories. While contributors to the social security are cared for by different institutions according to the type of organization they work for, the government offers basic medical services in local clinics to anyone who is not inscribed in a particular health program.Despite the efforts put forward by authorities to diminish inequalities, and with limited resources resulting on long waiting times and constrained medical help, a percentage of the households opt for private institutions, home remedies, and homeopathy. Private alternatives go from general doctors in pharmacies, to private appointments, and more specialized services in clinics.
State of health
Though perceived as one of the most important constraints, health challenges in Mexico are not solely limited to resources and services. As the country develops and people migrate from rural to urban communities, new health risks arise. With a changing diet, and a more sedentary life, a population with an increasingly large share of overweight people has led to higher prevalence rates of diabetes, and other chronic diseases. Although efforts have been made to encourage citizens to follow healthier habits, it will still take large structural efforts from local authorities to create a more preventive culture among the Mexican population.
