2024-01-03 22:30:47
Last year, the inflation presented levels never seen before. It was also considered a social factor that affects health, according to a survey conducted by Edelman Latin America.
The “Edelman Trust Barometer 2023 Special Report: Trust and Health” showed that 79 percent of Mexican respondents considered inflation to be the social factor with the greatest negative impact on their health.
Much of the inflation factors are external
Although in Mexico there is a free health system, the population often chooses to receive care in the private services. In this sense, 57 percent of those surveyed stated that there is a gap between how they take care of their health and how well they should do it.
What is clear is that inflation does not stop and a large part of the factors are external. For example, as of the first half of April 2022, the annual inflation rate in Mexico climbed to 7.72 percent, its highest level in the last 21 years.
The main concerns of citizens are the increase in food price level and energy ones. Although, it is true that other goods and services have become more expensive, rapidly, in recent months and health is one of them.
At a general level, the health sector registered a year-on-year increase of 5.4 percent in its price level, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). In addition, it is highlighted that some medications and medical devices for daily use have increased in price more sharply.
These are some of the health products that have become more expensive
Some of the products that have become more expensive include:
Expectorant and decongestant medications: +11.3% Dermatological medications: +9.4% Contraceptive medications (condoms) and other hormonal treatments: +9.4% Glasses, hearing aids, and orthopedics: +8.2% Anti-flu medications: +8.1% Diabetes medications: +7.1% Gastrointestinal medications: +7.0% Antibiotic medications: +6.9% Analgesics: +6.3% Allergy medications: +5.8% Medical consultations: +4.8% Childbirth hospitalization: +4.5% General hospitalization: +4.4% Clinical analysis: + 3.6% Anti-inflammatory medications: +3.5% Cardiovascular medications: +2.9%
Finally, it can be highlighted that according to Coneval (National Council for Evaluation of Social Development Policy), three out of every 10 Mexicans have a lack of access to health services. In absolute terms, 35.7 million people have to pay for their consultations, medications, tests, births, surgeries, family prevention and other treatments with their own income.
#inflation #effects #health #Mexicans