Mexico

China Interested In Seguro Popular

24 April 2006

MIAMI HERALD (MIAMI)--Mexican President Vicente Fox’s healthcare plan for the nation’s poorest attracted the attention of the Chinese, who are sending a high-level delegation of officials this month to consider adopting a similar program. The “Seguro Popular,” or Popular Insurance program, provides complementary funding for low-income citizens who don’t work in the formal economy or get care from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). It covers the costs for certain medical procedures to prevent low-income families from going into debt whenever they are faced with a medical emergency. In a recent interview, Health Secretary Julio Frenk said that the Seguro Popular’s success attracted international attention, and China became interested after Mexico gave a presentation on the program at a World Health Organization (WHO) event. Source: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/miami/17918.html (Reliability: 7)