[Labor regularization of health workers paid with funds from the Mexican System for Social Protection in Health]. / Regularización laboral de trabajadores de la salud pagados con recursos del Seguro Popular en México.

OBJECTIVE: The process of regularization of workers paid by the Social Protection Health System of Mexico is described and analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary and secondary data collected by the external evaluation of the Mexican System for Social Protection in Health in 2009 were used. RESULTS: The regularization clearly improved the labor conditions of workers contracted by the system but a broader systemic implication of regularization does not seem to be necessarily positive. CONCLUSION: It is important to consider the need to guarantee that this type of changes in the contractual conditions of workers benefit all actors, particularly the insured population.

Recent developments in public health nursing in the Americas.

This study presents an assessment of the participation and training of nurses in public health areas in the Americas. Information was gathered through a literature review and interviews with key informants from Mexico, Colombia, and Paraguay. Results demonstrate that there is significant variation in definitions of public health nursing across the region and current systematized data about the workforce profile of public health nursing personnel is not available for many countries in the Americas. There are significant regional differences in the levels and types of training of nurses working in public health areas and an increasing number of nurses are pursuing training in public health at the master's and doctoral levels. Many nurses carry out some or all of the essential functions of public health, but are not considered to be public health nurses. Generally, auxiliary and technical nurses have a broader presence in public health areas than professional nurses. In the future, regional health systems reforms should support increased recruitment and training of public health nurses, as well as stronger roles in public health research and health care at the individual, community, and population levels.

Regularización laboral de trabajadores de la salud pagados con recursos del Seguro Popular en México / Labor regularization of health workers paid with funds from the Mexican System for Social Protection in Health

OBJETIVO: Describir y analizar el proceso de regularización del personal de salud pagado por el Sistema de Protección Social en Salud de México. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se utilizan datos primarios y secundarios provenientes de la evaluación del Sistema de Protección Social en Salud en 2009. RESULTADOS: La regularización mejora las condiciones laborales de los trabajadores pero sus implicaciones para el conjunto del sistema no son necesariamente positivas. CONCLUSIONES: Se requiere considerar la necesidad de que este tipo de inversiones beneficien a todos los actores interesados, principalmente la población asegurada por el sistema.

OBJECTIVE: The process of regularization of workers paid by the Social Protection Health System of Mexico is described and analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary and secondary data collected by the external evaluation of the Mexican System for Social Protection in Health in 2009 were used. RESULTS: The regularization clearly improved the labor conditions of workers contracted by the system but a broader systemic implication of regularization does not seem to be necessarily positive. CONCLUSION: It is important to consider the need to guarantee that this type of changes in the contractual conditions of workers benefit all actors, particularly the insured population.