PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - José Manuel Ramírez Aranda
AU  - Chris van Weel
AU  - Felicity Goodyear-Smith
TI  - Strategies for Increasing the Role of Family Medicine in Mexican Health Care Reform
AID  - 10.3122/jabfm.2017.06.170024
DP  - 2017 Nov 01
TA  - The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
PG  - 843--847
VI  - 30
IP  - 6
4099  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/30/6/843.short
4100  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/30/6/843.full
SO  - J Am Board Fam Med2017 Nov 01; 30
AB  - There is little or no role for primary care and family medicine in current health reforms in Mexico. However, robust evidence shows that primary care helps prevent morbidity and mortality and increases health equity. Mexico has participated in several international meetings sponsored by the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations and the North American Primary Care Research Group that are aimed at increased understanding of national health systems and the need to strengthen primary care for improved health outcomes. From 1 of these meetings the Cancún Manifesto emerged, with a strategic plan to increase the stature and impact of the Mexican College of Family Physicians (COLMEXAC) in strengthening primary care in Mexico. We aim to describe this strategic plan and discuss its early implementation, and for this account to serve as a possible formula for other countries. The 5 specific strategies discussed are 1) the need for consensus on the leading role of the Mexican family physician in the national health system; 2) health ecology research; 3) to improve the perception of patients about the benefits of primary care and family medicine; 4) to organize meetings of health providers, users, and other stakeholders; and 5) to promote the professionalization of COLMEXAC as a legal entity.