Utilización de servicios de salud en México: cascada de atención primaria en 2022.

OBJETIVO: Presentar un panorama descriptivo de las elecciones de la población mexicana frente a una necesidad de salud en 2022. Material y métodos. Se utilizaron datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición Continua 2022. RESULTADOS: De 24.6% de la población que informó haber tenido una necesidad de salud en los últimos tres meses, 44% recibió atención en servicios públicos. El uso de servicios privados es extensivo a toda la población, pero fue más elevado en aquellos sin derechohabiencia. Se encontró que 71% de los motivos por los que las personas no se atendieran en el lugar que les correspondía de acuerdo con su derechohabiencia tuvo que ver con el acceso y 21% con la percepción de calidad. Entre los motivos de acceso para elegir el lugar donde se atendieron destacan la afiliación, la cercanía y el costo. En cuanto a la calidad, resaltan la atención rápida y la satisfacción con la atención. CONCLUSIONES: Con el fin de reducir la desigualdad de acceso y el gasto de bolsillo asociado con un mayor uso de servicios privados, sobre todo entre la población sin seguridad social, mejorar el acceso (como la distancia, los horarios de atención, las barreras burocráticas) puede ayudar a avanzar en este objetivo.

Building upon the sugar beverage tax in Mexico: a modelling study of tax alternatives to increase benefits.

INTRODUCTION: In 2014, Mexico implemented a one peso-per-litre tax to sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB). Even though this tax reduced household purchases and predicted population health gains, the magnitude is lower compared with taxes implemented in other settings. In this study, we assessed what would happen if Mexico modified its existing tax to get higher benefits based on currently implemented taxes elsewhere. METHODS: For each tax scenario, we estimated net benefits as the difference between healthcare savings and lost jobs. We created hypothetical scenarios in which the current tax doubled or would be modified based on existing tax designs around the world including specific taxes (sugar-density or volumetric) and ad-valorem taxes. RESULTS: We found that the largest benefits would correspond to a tax increase of 7.4 Mexican pesos (0.45 US dollars (USD)) per SSB litre, following the current tax in Bahrain (the highest tax rate option). This tax is predicted to yield net benefits equivalent to USD 24.7 billion after 10 years of the tax redesign. We also found that sugar-density taxes can result in larger net benefits since, in addition to reductions in consumption associated with responses to prices, they induce product reformulation. Middle-income households are the most benefited group because they reported the highest baseline prevalence of obesity and the largest price elasticity. CONCLUSION: Policymakers should consider pursuing a tax reform adding to the current tax, with significant increases in prices linked to a sugar-density strategy to reach a higher benefit.

The Covid-19 cascade of care in Mexico: symptoms, positivity, and health care seeking decisions amid the pandemic / La cascada de atención Covid-19 en México: síntomas, positividad y búsqueda de atención durante la pandemia

Abstract: Objective: The study describes health care services utilization contextualized by the needs of the Mexican population during the Covid-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey, Covid-19. Among the population with symptoms compatible with Covid-19, we describe the proportion who sought care, received care, were tested, were diagnosed positive, and survived, and whether they received care in public or private services. We estimated factors associated with the probability of seeking and receiving care. Results: Out of 7.1% of the population with symptoms compatible with Covid-19, 64.4% received care, and 15.4% tested positive; 74.5% received care in the private sector, even among the population with social security. Those with social security, in contact with a suspected or confirmed Covid-19 case, and with at least one comorbidity had a higher probability of seeking and receiving care. Conclusions: The most relevant finding of our study is the large proportion of the population with Covid-19 symptoms who sought and received care in private facilities, an essential aspect for decision-makers to consider as the current health reform moves forward in Mexico.

Resumen: Objetivo: Describir el uso de servicios de salud en el contexto de las necesidades de la población mexicana durante la epidemia de Covid-19. Material y métodos: Se utilizó la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición, Covid-19. De la población con síntomas compatibles con Covid-19, se describió la proporción que buscó atención, la que la recibió, a la que le hicieron prueba, a la que fue diagnosticada como positiva y sobrevivió; y si recibieron atención en servicios públicos o privados. Se estimaron factores asociados con la probabilidad de buscar y recibir atención. Resultados: De 7.1% de la población con síntomas compatibles con Covid-19, 64.4% recibió atención y 15.4% fue positivo; 74.5% recibió atención en servicios privados, aun en la población con seguridad social. La población con seguridad social, en contacto con un caso sospechoso o confirmado de Covid-19 y con al menos una comorbilidad, tuvo una probabilidad mayor de buscar o recibir atención. Conclusiones: El resultado más relevante del estudio es la proporción tan elevada de la población con síntomas compatibles con Covid-19 que recibió atención en servicios privados, un aspecto a considerar en el contexto de la reforma en salud en México.

Elasticidad precio y elasticidad ingreso de la demanda de cerveza en México / Price elasticity and income elasticity of the demand for beer in Mexico

Resumen: Objetivo: Estimar la elasticidad precio y la elasticidad ingreso de la demanda de cerveza en México. Material y métodos: Se utilizaron series mensuales de ventas y precios de cerveza de 2007 a 2019. Se estimó la elasticidad a largo plazo mediante un modelo de mínimos cuadrados ordinarios (MCO). La elasticidad en el corto plazo se estimó mediante un modelo de mínimos cuadrados ordinarios dinámicos (MCOD). Resultados: La elasticidad precio en el largo plazo fue de -1.40 (IC95%: -2.53 a -0.27) y -1.31 (IC95%: -2.46 a -0.15) en el corto plazo. La elasticidad ingreso de la demanda en el largo y en el corto plazo se estimó en 0.86 (IC95%: 0.44-1.29) y 0.93 (IC95%: 0.51-1.34), respectivamente. Conclusión: Los hallazgos de este estudio sugieren que las políticas fiscales pueden tener un impacto positivo en la salud de la población al reducir el consumo de cerveza.

Abstract: Objective: Estimate the price and income elasticities of the demand for beer in Mexico. Materials and methods: Monthly series on beer sales and prices from 2007 to 2019 were used. Long-term elasticity was estimated using ordinary least squares (OLS). Short-term elasticity was estimated using a dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) model. Results: The price elasticity was in the long term of -1.40 (95%CI: -2.53 to -0.27) and -1.31 (95%CI: -2.46 to -0.15) in the short term. The income elasticity of demand in the long and short term was estimated at 0.86 (95%CI: 0.44-1.29 and 0.93 (95%CI: 0.51-1.34), respectively. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that fiscal policies may have a positive impact on the health of the population by reducing beer consumption.

Price elasticity and income elasticity of the demand for beer in Mexico / Elasticidad precio y elasticidad ingreso de la demanda de cerveza en México

Objective: Estimate the price and income elasticities of the demand for beer in Mexico. Materials and methods: Monthly series on beer sales and prices from 2007 to 2019 were used. Long-term elasticity was estimated using ordinary least squares (OLS). Short-term elasticity was estimated using a dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) model. Results: The price elasticity was in the long term of -1.40 (95%CI: -2.53 to -0.27) and -1.31 (95%CI: -2.46 to -0.15) in the short term. The income elasticity of demand in the long and short term was estimated at 0.86 (95%CI: 0.44-1.29 and 0.93 (95%CI: 0.51-1.34), respectively. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that fiscal policies may have a positive impact on the health of the population by reducing beer consumption.

The Covid-19 cascade of care in Mexico: symptoms, positivity, and health care seeking decisions amid the pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The study describes health care services utilization contextualized by the needs of the Mexican population during the Covid-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey, Covid-19. Among the population with symptoms compatible with Covid-19, we describe the proportion who sought care, received care, were tested, were diagnosed positive, and survived, and whether they received care in public or private services. We estimated factors associated with the probability of seeking and receiving care. RESULTS: Out of 7.1% of the population with symptoms compatible with Covid-19, 64.4% received care, and 15.4% tested positive; 74.5% received care in the private sector, even among the population with social security. Those with social security, in contact with a suspected or confirmed Covid-19 case, and with at least one comorbidity had a higher probability of seeking and receiving care. CONCLUSIONS: The most relevant finding of our study is the large proportion of the population with Covid-19 symptoms who sought and received care in private facilities an essential aspect for decision-makers to consider as the current health reform moves forward in Mexico.