June 1 sees the start of Mexico’s Sistema Universal de Salud (Universal Health System), in which patients will be able to receive attention from any Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS),
Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE) or Secretaría de Salud (Segura Popular) hospital, regardless of the institution to which they are affiliated.
The major aim of this new system to share services and infrastructure is to lower costs and provide patients with more options.
The first phase of the exchange project in Jalisco will be restricted to 34 medical services and interventions, although the final goal is to offer around 100 covering some 700 medical conditions.
Exams for adults covered under the first phase of the project in Jalisco include EEG’s, mammographs, cardiac stress tests, X-rays, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. Interventions include births (Cesarians), hysterectomy, hip and knee replacements, pancreatic surgery and cleft-lip surgery. Children’s services include both pediatric and neonatal care.
The system works on two levels. If any of the three institutions is unable to provide affiliated patients with an appropriate medical service, they may be referred to one of the others – preferably at a more convenient location – for treatment. In addition, patients may also prefer to receive treatment for their condition at an institution of their choice, as long as it is available.
The main beneficiaries of the new system will be subscribers living outside of the main metropolitan areas, said Marcelo Castillero, IMSS delegate in Jalisco. They will now be able to receive treatment at their nearest institutions, thus saving time and lowering their travel expenses, he noted.
“There will no charge for a patient seeking treatment at another institution,” confirmed Celso Montiel, director of Seguro Popular in Jalisco.
The new system will also help institutions maximize the use of their equipment, said Gabriel O’Shea Cuevas, national director of the Seguro Popular program. Studies show that some hospitals obtain expensive equipment that is subsequently underutilized.