Trends in Medical Employment: Persistent Imbalances in Urban Mexico

Frenk J, Knaul F, Vázquez LA, Nigenda G. (1999). "Trends in Medical Employment: Persistent Imbalances in Urban Mexico". The American Journal of Public Health, July; 89 (7)

Posted: 17 May 2012

See all articles by Julio Frenk

Julio Frenk

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Felicia Knaul

Harvard Global Equity Initiative; Mexican Health Foundation

Gustavo Nigenda

Medical University of Sofia

Date Written: 1999

Abstract

During the last quarter century, the social institution of medicine has experienced a series of imbalances that threaten its potential contribution to the solution of health problems. In many countries, such imbalances have found their extreme expression in the coexistence of doctors without employment and populations without medical service. Mexico is one of those countries. As of 1995, 11% of the population still lacked access even to basic health care, while thousands of physicians were unemployed or underemployed.

In this context, two national surveys of medical employment were carried out in support of research and policy-making. The results of the 1986 survey have been reported in the Journal; this article focuses on the 1993 survey. Having two points in time makes it possible to ascertain trends. Furthermore, it is possible to consider the effects of policies to control the supply of physicians that were implemented between the surveys. This case study can offer lessons to other countries struggling with similar problems.

Suggested Citation

Frenk, Julio and Knaul, Felicia and Knaul, Felicia and Nigenda, Gustavo, Trends in Medical Employment: Persistent Imbalances in Urban Mexico (1999). Frenk J, Knaul F, Vázquez LA, Nigenda G. (1999). "Trends in Medical Employment: Persistent Imbalances in Urban Mexico". The American Journal of Public Health, July; 89 (7), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2061374

Julio Frenk

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation ( email )

P.O. Box 23350
Seattle, WA 98102
United States

Felicia Knaul (Contact Author)

Mexican Health Foundation ( email )

Periférico sur 4809, El Arenal Tepepan, Tlalpan
El Arenal Tepepan, Tlalpan
Mexico, D.F., 14610
Mexico
(52) 55 56559011 (Phone)
(52) 55 56559082 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://http//www.funsalud.org.mx

Harvard Global Equity Initiative ( email )

FXB Building, Room 632
651 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
United States
(617) 4327938 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k62597&pageid=icb.page268594

Gustavo Nigenda

Medical University of Sofia

Bialo more str. N 8
Sofia, 1527
Bulgaria

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