[Anthropological view of the decentralization of the Mexican health system]. / Visión antropológica de la descentralización del sistema de salud en México.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze organizational, political and economic changes resulting from the decentralization of the health system for those in Mexico without health insurance. METHODS: Three states, selected by considering the percentage of the population living in poverty, the political party in power and their stage of decentralization (the first was in 1984 and the second in 1997) were included. Interviews were conducted during 2007 with key informants from the state health care services, users of health care services, and community leaders. Data were analyzed from an anthropological and economic perspective. RESULTS: Decentralization occurred in a heterogeneous way in each state, with responsibilities being transferred from federal to state level but without breaking the dependence on the central-federal level. The reforms driven from the federal level to create a scheme based on a principle of financial subsidies and democratization of the health system face challenges for their political and organizational consolidation. CONCLUSIONS: The anthropological approach adopted in this analysis shows the relevance of considering organizational, economic and political factors as key components of the decentralization process.

Vision antropologica de la descentralizacion del sistema de salud en Mexico / Anthropological view of the decentralization of the Mexican health system

OBJETIVO: Analizar cambios organizacionales, políticos y económicos resultantes de la descentralización del sistema de salud en la población sin seguridad social en México. METODOS: Se visitaron tres estados del país seleccionados por el número de habitantes en condición de pobreza, el partido político en el poder y la etapa de implementación de la descentralización (la primera fue en 1984 y la segunda en 1997). Se realizaron entrevistas durante 2007 con informantes clave de los servicios de salud de los gobiernos estatales, personas que acudieron a consulta en los servicios estatales de salud y líderes comunitarios. Los datos fueron analizados desde una perspectiva antropológica y económica. RESULTADOS: La descentralización ocurrió de forma heterogénea en cada estado, observándose una transferencia de responsabilidades de la federación a los estados, más no así una ruptura con la dependencia del nivel central - federal. Las reformas impulsadas desde el nivel federal para crear un esquema fundamentado en principios de subsidiaridad financiera y democratización en salud enfrentan retos políticos y organizacionales para su consolidación. CONCLUSIONES: El enfoque antropológico muestra la relevancia de considerar factores organizacionales, políticos y económicos como parte del proceso de descentralización. .

OBJECTIVE: To analyze organizational, political and economic changes resulting from the decentralization of the health system for those in Mexico without health insurance. METHODS: Three states, selected by considering the percentage of the population living in poverty, the political party in power and their stage of decentralization (the first was in 1984 and the second in 1997) were included. Interviews were conducted during 2007 with key informants from the state health care services, users of health care services, and community leaders. Data were analyzed from an anthropological and economic perspective. RESULTS: Decentralization occurred in a heterogeneous way in each state, with responsibilities being transferred from federal to state level but without breaking the dependence on the central-federal level. The reforms driven from the federal level to create a scheme based on a principle of financial subsidies and democratization of the health system face challenges for their political and organizational consolidation. CONCLUSIONS: The anthropological approach adopted in this analysis shows the relevance of considering organizational, economic and political factors as key components of the decentralization process. .