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Becerril-Montekio V, Meneses-Navarro S, Pelcastre-Villafuerte BE, Serván-Mori E. Segmentation and fragmentation of health systems and the quest for universal health coverage: conceptual clarifications from the Mexican case. J Public Health Policy 2024; 45:164-174. [PMID: 38326551 DOI: 10.1057/s41271-024-00470-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Health systems are complex entities. The Mexican health system includes the private and public sectors, and subsystems that target different populations based on corporatist criteria. Lack of unity and its consequences can be better understood using two concepts, segmentation and fragmentation. These reveal mechanisms and strategies that impede progress toward universality and equity in Mexico and other low- and middle-income countries. Segmentation refers to separation of the population by position in the labour market. Fragmentation refers to institutions, and to financial aspects, health care levels, states' systems of care, and organizational models. These elements explain inequitable allocation of resources and packages of health services offered by each institution to its population. Overcoming segmentation will require a shift from employment to citizenship as the basis for eligibility for public health care. Shortcomings of fragmentation can be avoided by establishing a common package of guaranteed benefits. Mexico illustrates how these two concepts characterize a common reality in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Becerril-Montekio
- Centre for Health Systems Research/National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Sergio Meneses-Navarro
- Centre for Health Systems Research/National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
- National Council of Humanities, Sciences and Technology/National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
| | | | - Edson Serván-Mori
- Centre for Health Systems Research/National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
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Ibarra-González I, Fernández-Lainez C, Vela-Amieva M, Guillén-López S, Belmont-Martínez L, López-Mejía L, Carrillo-Nieto RI, Guillén-Zaragoza NA. A Review of Disparities and Unmet Newborn Screening Needs over 33 Years in a Cohort of Mexican Patients with Inborn Errors of Intermediary Metabolism. Int J Neonatal Screen 2023; 9:59. [PMID: 37873850 PMCID: PMC10594536 DOI: 10.3390/ijns9040059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in an early diagnosis by expanded newborn screening (NBS) have been achieved mainly in developed countries, while populations of middle- and low-income countries have poor access, leading to disparities. Expanded NBS in Mexico is not mandatory. Herein, we present an overview of the differences and unmet NBS needs of a group of Mexican patients with inborn errors of intermediary metabolism (IEiM), emphasizing the odyssey experienced to reach a diagnosis. We conducted a retrospective observational study of a historical cohort of patients with IEiM from a national reference center. A total of 924 patients with IEiM were included. Although 72.5% of the diseases identified are detectable by expanded NBS, only 35.4% of the patients were screened. The mortality in the unscreened group was almost two-fold higher than that in the screened group. Patients experienced a median diagnostic delay of 4 months, which is unacceptably long considering that to prevent disability and death, these disorders must be treated in the first days of life. Patients had to travel long distances to our reference center, contributing to their unacceptable diagnostic odyssey. This study highlights the urgent need to have an updated, expanded NBS program with adequate follow up in Mexico and promote the creation of regional medical care centers. We also provide compelling evidence that could prove valuable to decision makers overseeing public health initiatives for individuals impacted by IEiM from middle- and low-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Ibarra-González
- Laboratorio de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo y Tamiz, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México 04530, Mexico
- Unidad de Genética de la Nutrición, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Cynthia Fernández-Lainez
- Laboratorio de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo y Tamiz, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México 04530, Mexico
| | - Marcela Vela-Amieva
- Laboratorio de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo y Tamiz, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México 04530, Mexico
| | - Sara Guillén-López
- Laboratorio de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo y Tamiz, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México 04530, Mexico
| | - Leticia Belmont-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo y Tamiz, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México 04530, Mexico
| | - Lizbeth López-Mejía
- Laboratorio de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo y Tamiz, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México 04530, Mexico
| | - Rosa Itzel Carrillo-Nieto
- Laboratorio de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo y Tamiz, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México 04530, Mexico
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