You can manufacture fish-eye glass domes that sit on the surface and lead to mirror-walled tubes that parascopically carry the sunlight to the deeper into the catacombs and distribute it to each chamber.
The outlets could basically just be slightly convex glass discs to fill the whole space with light, with simple aperture adjustments to control the amount of light in the room.
This has been happening for several decades. My grandmother used to take regular trips across the border from Corpus Cristi to get her meds at pennies on the dollar.
I get the joke but maybe the opposite. Americans already did cross the border for cheap healthcare. If public healthcare means that only citizens get it, that business will dry up
Free as in "free at the point of service".
Of course it is paid for somehow.
But as far a a someone going into a hospital to get a cast, medicine, birth... It's free
That’s true. Unfortunately, calling it free is often used by people who want to paint it as infeasible, and is used as an excuse to cut funding—even when data shows it’s an investment with human and monetary rewards.
As far as everyone except oligarchs are concerned, it means everyone can access it without getting financially fucked over into debt. And that's excellent news.
incorrect slightly- while most boomer and right wing assholes know it means free at point of service and tax funded they act like it means “free for welfare queens and illegals” because they think daddy capitalist is watching them lick boots.
You get free police beatings. And if you're stopped they will empty the money out of your wallet as "civil asset forfeiture". So not exactly a cost but not exactly free.
I like to compare it to someone sitting in math class, the lesson is on square numbers and they go "a square is a shape though". Everyone who actually paid attention knows the relation between the concepts and doesn't need to compensate ignorance with smug pedantry.
Yes I mean nothing is free if we try to be strict about it. The word would have no meaning. I think we all understand “sold at zero price” but there are always people in the crowd who want to pop up and say “it’s not free! someone pays!” Typically their next move is to start breaking down who pays and why it’s unfair. I have no patience for them.
I dont have patience for those people either, but in general a lot of people feel taxes are the state taking away money. Where i live this is true for large corpo's and rich folk ('the state should not waste money on things people can pay for by themselves' is how they tend to put it here), but also by people with low wages tend to complain about how the state robs them. Reminding them how things they use are funded by the taxes they pay (roads, hospitals, police, education) can help them; because here they tend to fall for the retoric of the parties serving the rich and they sometimes truly believe the country would be nicer if they paid less taxes (not understanding they would have much more trouble paying for things like education and healthcare). For that reason I much prefer 'tax-funded healthcare/public transport/education', as calling it free is like giving a weapon to the group of people and corporations trying to lower their tax burden (and getting out of their responsibilities as the heavy lifters of funding public services).
Even setting aside the deceptive propaganda around this, “they” meaning right wing voters of modest means, still have two problems with tax funded services of any kind. The government may not be “taking money away” as in making it vanish, but they are taking away the choice of how that money should be spent. Conservatives see a moral hazard here where their taxes will pay for the poor lifestyle choices of others - and actually they are right, just not the way they think they are. It’s not abortions for slutty brown women they should worry about but metabolic syndrome brought on by their own white neighbors horrible diets that will burden the system most.
Their other problem is they don’t want to benefit from this kind of public good themselves. They see it as “taking charity” and although white people accept plenty of advantages, they like to stay proud about it. It doesn’t help to say “look, you’re getting something here.” So there just isn’t any way of making them comfortable with the setup, even when it isn’t being grossly distorted to them.
The whole “I don’t take no charity” is a very old American value and part of a complex system we have for giving people ways to feel superior to others. We don’t have a formal class system in this society but we service the same instincts in a hundred other small ways. Farm subsidies? Of course! Do you know how important farmers are? Healthcare supports? What… so I can pay for abortions for some illegal immigrant who couldn’t keep her legs closed?
We’re terminally stupid here and everything is about feels I don’t see how we’ll ever get past all this.
Conservatives see a moral hazard here where their taxes will pay for the poor lifestyle choices of others
I see a moral choice where my taxes will pay for the poor political choices of conservatives in poorer red states, but they also deserve free healthcare
There are so many health services that can be delivered en masse at very little cost. I once lived in a “3rd world” country with state sponsored healthcare. They had an army of nurses in shop storefronts delivering vaccines and basic meds for common illnesses. Just walk in. Nothing fancy - one of them literally reused hypodermic needles after sterilizing them with a bunsen burner. But how fancy does it actually need to be?
That's a thing in the US too, by the way. You can walk into a pharmacy or some grocery stores and get cheap/free vaccines for the current flu strain as well as the standard immunizations for a bunch of common diseases.
True that’s how I get my flu shots and such. It’s often extremely modest accommodations. Once my feet were resting on a pile of discarded coat hangers and other detritus from the drugstore’s retail floor.
It’s unfortunate that vaccinations somehow became political because it’s a great example of public health efforts for all being cheap with huge benefits
I agree, as a Canadian even if not perfect I couldn't imagine having a pay system or even what the US calls healthcare. That's the point of taxation, we get roads that are drivable, healthcare that is affordable and stuff like food standards, clean drinking water, education. The billionaires are trying to say everyone else doesn't need such things so they can get a bigger nibble of the pie when they already have truckloads.
Careful what you wish for. I don't want them in my country, even if they bring money. They fuck everything up. I'm not anti immigrants and refugees, they are welcome, they should be treated better, like equals which sadly isn't always the case in my country. But Americans are a different story. There are some proper Americans, I have a few American friends that are proper, but in general I don't like to have Americans around.
Even their money can fuck everything up. Like raise property prices so locals can't buy property anymore. Same with groceries etc.
It's better to keep them isolated in their own mess. Otherwise they will leave the mess they made to create more mess where you live, then to go somewhere else after that. Irresponsible and selfish people will only bring misery onto others.
In the movie Team America they have a nice saying. "There are pussies, dicks and assholes". Right now Americans are the assholes. They need to get fucked "otherwise you will have all your pussies and dicks all covered in shit."
And all their slaves (including the current legal slaves who are incarcerated)
The Vietnamese, Kmer, Iraqis, Iranians, Cubans, pffff....
Wait. It's easier to list the ones that don't think they are assholes: Israel (bigger assholes), eeeehm.... Oh yeah, themselves as they are self-centered AF. End of the list.
Honestly, you're getting a bad bias from the kinds of Americans that currently are immigrating there. The important thing to understand is you don't want the Americans with money, you want the Americans without any money that are willing to work and help other people out. Lol. See, what you've got right now are all of the rich assholes that don't care about the culture or people of where they're moving to - they just want to live like kings in a cheap city that they can turn into an asshole bubble that prices all of the normal people out. Rich people are leeches. Ultimately, the world would be a better place with open borders everywhere, but no rich assholes. Think about why borders even exist. In what world does it matter? The only reason is ultimately just rich assholes not wanting to dilute their wealth. The best thing we can do at this point is to convince them to go to Mars and leave them there.
You can replace "muricans" with "rich immigrants".
For corrupt/conservative governments, rich immigrants are cool, and called investors.
Poor immigrants are terrorists.
I'm sure you need to be a Mexican citizen to qualify for the program, I imagine foreigners get a bill. But I'm an American that expects a crippling bill from medical care so I have a bias.
In some countries they don't even have the financial infrastructure to bill patients, so injured tourists get free health care. A big chunk of American medical bills is due to the cost of billing.
I never went to surgery or anything, but I've been to a couple of Drs in Mexico and it's basically just like paying the copay and just peacing out. Most of the time you can just ask the pharmacist and they prescribe whatever right there.
You're overestimating the American Healthcare system.
In Denmark (and I would assume those other countries as well) it varies depending on the factors. If you are a foreigner but are living in Denmark, or if you are staying in Denmark for a job, then you can apply for the rights of free healthcare treatment, but if you are a tourist needing urgent care, and are not a citizen of the EU (or the Nordic countries), or under the age of 18, then you will be billed.
So there definitely is a financial infrastructure to bill in Denmark, even though its own citizens never see it. Without knowing it precisely I would also assume that the bill would be very reasonable compared to a bill for the same treatment in the US.
We have free at point of service health care in Canada for those signed up to the plan. You don't have to be a citizen just a resident and wait your 2 month grace period. For tourists and non signed up folks you pay the costs out of pocket, but they are reasonable compared to USA. A coworker wasn't here long enough for the signup and dislocated his shoulder. Hospital visit, xray, sling, etc $400
It'll probably stay the same. This administration is very aware of these issues and I doubt they'll intervene. Private practice is already available to anyone who wants it, no questions asked.
That's one of the things uasians don't understand. Universal health care doesn't mean there are no private hospitals or practices. It means you have a choice, but you are covered no matter what.
Don't worry americans don't use public healthcare in Mexico, otherwise they would actually understand the struggle to get it
They just use private healthcare since it is catered to them while being cheaper compared to the US (I worked on medical tourism, all the marketing for these clinics is targeted to americans; most of them don't even bother using Spanish on their ads)
It's a step. Vs. medicines too expensive to buy, and doctors that you can't see for months who run you through the mill to get their numbers up. I can't say which is worse when the result is about the same. At least you have more of a chance now.
Kaiser was excellent when they only provided service to kiaser members. When the government stepped in, the whole system went to shit. They still have the same amount of doctors so the only thing that happened in now everyone gets shitty service and long wait times.
Sometimes the government getting involved isn't a good thing.
Mexico has around 25 Doctors per 100000 capita. That is lower than almost all European countries that averaged 40 Doctors per 100000 capita.
When it comes to nurses, the comparison is worse. 29/100000capita in Mexico and over 100/100000capita in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands. With no EU nation falling below 40/100000capita.
One probably needs to look at the demography as well. Half of Germany's healthcare workforce is probably busy explaining retirees not to drink beer to swallow up their pills at any given time
That is valuable context for sure, but the data doesn't illustrate wait times.
I'm from Canada which appears to have a similar ratio to Mexico (I don't consider our basic healthcare a "shallow gesture")
Wait times are long here, but twice as many doctors & hospitals would make the wait times only half as long, which would still be counted in years in some cases. So I don't believe that any country has "enough" or enough to make the wait times negligible, which is probably an unrealistic goal.
it's a shallow gesture here because wait times are longer than reported, if you are lucky enough attended in time, and even then you will probably have to pay for every medicine and if you need surgery you will have to pay for any materials used too
hope that clears the sentiment we have in Mexico regarding our public healthcare
We pay out the ass and still have to schedule a surgery 4 months out or just argue with insurance denials for cancer treatment until we die first. Show up to an ER with something that won't immediately kill you and be prepared to wait for 5 hours so a doctor can see you for literally 5 minutes. Nursing homes will bill you $4,000 a month to share a room while you wait to dies, with staff going down to like 2 people for 60 people after 7pm.
The only ones there's enough doctors for are the wealthy. Everywhere else your screwed, and also get billed into permanent debt. It's like $15,000 just to have a baby. Heart attack will run you six figures .
Because healthcare has been free in Mexico for decades. This seems like the usual political posturing. Saying "healthcare is free" is an empty statement if people are turned away at the point of service because of a lack of medicine or service providers. Give them three months and then check again. Then you'll know if it was a shallow gesture or not.
But a cursory google search shows that it isn't currently free for everyone, and in particular tied to your employment status. This means that in your negotiations with your employer, your health is essentially a bargaining chip (and this is bad for you and your salary for obvious reasons). The new system abolishes this tie to employment. This is a huge step for workers and the unemployed alike. This is not a hollow gesture.
It is not part of your negotiations with your employer. You get health insurance through IMSS (social security) by law. It is not optional and the service is not tied to your salary. You can make millions, or minimum wage, your IMSS coverage would be the same.
We've had another coverage called "seguro popular", this has been free and not tied to employment since early 2000s. It was revamped and gutted by the previous president. The only requirement to get coverage was to not have coverage by IMSS. So, employed, you get IMSS. Unemployed, you got seguro popular.
If you lose your job, you lose your coverage. That makes it a bargaining chip. The employer has one up on you in negotiations. When I negotiate my salary (my health insurance is not tied to my employment), I know that if I can’t work it out with my (potential) employer, and I get sick, I’ll be fine. Not so if my coverage was tied to employment. The pressure to accept an offer that’s worse for me would be much higher.
If you lose your job, you lose your coverage. That makes it a bargaining chip. The employer has one up on you in negotiations. When I negotiate my salary (my health insurance is not tied to my employment), I know that if I can't work it out with my (potential) employer, and I get sick, I'll be fine. Not so if my coverage was tied to employment. The pressure to accept an offer that's worse for me would be much higher.
I'm with you. I'm glad I pay taxes and they should make everyone's life better. The thing is we already had a good enough public healthcare system, but at the moment is falling way short of what it should be. It is worse than before, and there is an issue when critical medications are not in supply.
Obviously I can only speak for myself and my perception.
If reports are to be believed, I live in one of the most dangerous regions in the world. You can google el bajío or guanajuato.
Day to day life is very good for me. I have a good enough job and my city is cheap compared to Mexico city. Distances are short and walkable. I have kids and there are many public places for them to play sports or just hang out.
Hard violent crime has slowed down. There were many drive by killings, at least 2 or 3 a week just a year ago, but now I hardly ever hear gunshots or news about new deaths. The main issue at the moment is paying for "protection", its happening everywhere and some business cant afford it. Despite of it, many new restaurants, cafés and other small business are opening.
As for healthcare, which was the subject of this post, I can get a private appointment with a really good doctor in less than a couple of days if not urgent, and it costs from 800 to 1200 pesos. Medicines go from really generic cheap, think about 200 pesos, to 3000 depending on what is needed.
If you have any more questions for anything that may tickle your curiosity Ill be glad to answer as best as I can.
Sounds like everywhere with actual free healthcare tbh. Here in Malaysia the healthcare has been free for decade, but doctor shortage, wad shortage is the common theme plaguing the sector, so the wait time for non-emergency treatment tend to be long. If you want quick service you can visit private healthcare.
This doesn't seems like a shallow gesture, this could actually pave the way for the future when the issue is under control.
The issue won't be under control anytime soon if ever, public healthcare has just been declining for the past two decades in Mexico and this won't fix anything in practice, just in paper
This stands out even more because we're in an era when even countries with Universal Healthcare have been walking back on it (as well as Social Security, Unions and other earlier Leftwing conquests) by privatizing them piecemeal through things like forced outsourcing of some services and public-private initiatives.
What's important to note is that these placed aren't going back on it because it doesn't work. They are going back on it because of back room deals made with corporate insurance lobbyists and their bought politicians. Profit is always the driving force for privatization.
You can just look at the experience of creating the National Health Service in the UK (there's a bunch of documentaries floating around) to see how it's an overall positive for Society by a large margin, not just directly but also indirectly because for example when people can go see a doctor for free they are far more likely to end up being treated for sickness early on (which its cheaper and easier) or to get treatment for debilitating but not life threatening conditions which in turn even gets reflected in higher Economic outcomes because healthier people are more productive.
Universal Healthcare Systems only "don't work" for those who are fatcats getting a slice of that sweet sweet 13%+ of national GDP (about 18% in the US) that goes into Healthcare in the average country.
Yes it's what's happening here in Canada and it's sickening. But it looks like it's better to blame the left for no reason, so why vote for them? Better keep slowly dismantling everything we collectively built instead!
I first saw that shit when I lived in Britain a decade ago, already at the hands of he who Thatcher called her "Greatest Achievement" (Tony Blair, who pivoted the Labour Party hard to the Right and away from a party representing the working class) and later directly at the hands of the Tories (Conservative Party).
Now that I'm back in my native Portugal (which also has a National Health service), the current rightwing government here is trying to do the same thing, tough not quite yet at the same point as NHS sneaky privatization was in Britain over a decade ago.
By the way, Mark Carney, now PM of Canada, was placed by and served as head of the Bank Of England for the Tories back when I was there, during which he was a great friend of bankers and presided over an economic period when in real terms the income of the lower 90% by wealth of the population was falling at about 1% per year, whilst that of the top 10% was growing at around 23%.
So, yeah, it does not surprise me at all, in any way form or shape, that Carney is working to make the fatcats fatter - same as he did in Britain - not for the good of most Canadians.
Yes I agree, Carney is just the latest one. We've been electing people that are dismantling everything for decades. The worst part isn't the federal, it's the provincial governments as they are the one who are in charge of most of our social programs. Here in Québec, they've been dismantling health care, social assistance program, infrastructures, education, child care and even one of the thing we're most proud of Hydro-Quebec. Everything so slowly that most of the people thinks its because of the unions or shit like that.
It's maddening to see people complaining about the decay of everything then turn around and elect the same type of people again that brought us there, but in another branding. And the only thing they will say is that they can't elect the alternative as they wear a hoodie... So stupid.
Like my parents, like everyone they were complaining of the last liberal government (which is akin to a conservative party that likes immigrants), so they wanted change. What did they do? They voted for the CAQ which is filled with conservatives and old boomers. The exact same type of people. Now they act surprised as they are not satisfied with them anymore, for the exact same reasons again. Next time they will probably vote for the PQ which has made a turn towards fascistic rethoric. The only alternative is QS, but a few members are anti-capitalists so they are now intelligible in their eyes. Oh and a member one time used to wear hoodies in parliament, that was such news worthy...
We're a bit luckier than in the US as we do have alternatives that are possible to elect, but most people are too dumb to give them a chance. Doesn't help that the whole media apparatus are for the statu quo and demonize the alternatives every chance they can.
Most people do not have the time to look beyond the propaganda and schemes that high net worth individuals invest in to ensure their own interests are the only ones served in the long run.
Weird, it's almost like there's a global class war going on where only one side is organized and doing the fighting. Also, that a big part of their campaign is to infiltrate any remotely left leaning political party to sabotage it from within. But that's crazy. I mean, if there were going to do something like that they'd also be constantly sowing conflict between left-learning centrists and leftists which only ever happens every single day on every single media and social media platform.
It's my impression that it's mainly the "center"-left parties (aka the larger ones) which got infiltrated, especially in countries with power duopolies thanks to Mathematically rigged voting systems like First Past The Post.
If you think about it, it makes total sense that Greedy Posh Salesmen-types with no principles whatsoever who want to get rich quick would be drawn to the two parties in power duopoly systems, were they will sell themselves to those who can reward them the best for their services, and those people certainly aren't the Poor or the Working Class.
I've concluded some years ago that the secret for Democracy to actually do what it says on the tin is constant change (the very opposite of those voting systems mathematically rigged for "stability") - rotten politicians must genuinely fear that if they sell themselves, they WILL end up out of power and the next ones in aren't going to be just "mates with a different pin on their lapel" so they are more likely than not to end up in jail for it.
There are big differences then. Where I live, we just got dental included in free healthcare, which is getting rolled out to more and more people in the next 10 years, where in the end everyone is included.
We already had free until age of 24 I think, but now they will go all the way. It's in Denmark btw.
I voted her for this kind of policies, but reality is not that simple. Public healthcare costs a lot of money, and current facilities and personnel are in the stone age. I wouldn't go to any public healthcare facility right now as my first choice. At least not where I live. Sustained investment and vigilance are key, and I hope that by the end of her mandate we will have something we could call a proper public healthcare system, not yet a decent one, but an existing one.
True. But it only matters if you are alive. Look, I'm not trying to be cynical, we have both systems in Mexico, and I've experienced both as a client. I'm all for public healthcare, but if it doesn't work, it's only a pretty idea. On the private side, yeah it's fucking expensive, but it kind of works for the ones who can afford it. Just to be clear, we agree.
This kinda thing doesn’t turn on over night. You might be able to afford private, but very few will be able to. The American paid system has a 3-9 month wait for doctor visits right now in Tucson. My doctor also doesn’t even physically examine me anymore because they’re so rushed to get in other patients, because capitalism.
Edit: not that capitalism is evil, it just has no place in healthcare.
I'm okay with both opinions of capitalism as evil or not. The American healthcare system is, sorry, it is dogshit. No one should be living under that system, it's only better than nothing at all, I guess.
Still something better than the US, where some wait (or are poor so they just need to go to the ER) until the ER when it’s too late. The only prevention is those with regular insurance and use it.
Healthcare in Mexico has been free and public for decades. There are still paid private practices and having social security limits the public providers you can use but Article 77 Bis-1 of the General Health Law states that anyone without social security can be treated for free. That article was first published in 2002 and last modified in 2023. This is just the administration claiming that they enacted (excellent) old laws.
It was free for workers and a few administrations ago they implemented a free for all program that was mostly cancelled. They system was also divided by private workers and government workers with different quality of services , this tries to implement all services into one, hopefully it works but this administration has not been very good at the implementation phase of any project
I think it's important to point out that this was for the formalized workers, not for all the actual workers. As all this decades past, less and less workers were recipients of social benefits, including healthcare. Work informality became an ally of cheap parallel healthcare systems as it became the new normal. This is not enacting dead laws only, the president is trying to fix the loophole between formalized workers and actual workers by truly universalizing healthcare to everyone, worker or not.
If you'd told any American 40 years ago that Mexico's democracy in 2026 would make Americas look pathetic, they'd have called you crazy and then beaten you up. Not so much anymore.
Congratulations Mexico! It’s nice to read a positive article for once. Happy for everyone this allows a pathway to getting the healthcare treatment they deserve.
I’m not certain what your question means. Are you saying that you personally have “free healthcare” but don’t have the right to use said healthcare? Because this reads like you are barred from healthcare for some reason.
Or are you saying that there are literally no healthcare providers in the country, or even within a “reasonable” distance, where reasonable can be up to an hour drive?
Edit: To be clear, I don’t think an hour drive is reasonable. But it’s a common thing in the US and Canada which most would agree “have healthcare.”
lol I'm not barred from healthcare, that is not the issue
the question is, what is healthcare to you? we don't have enough doctors, no medicines, no supplies, no beds, our hospitals are barely functional thanks to lack of maintenance.
instead of giving more funds to our public healthcare they are stretching it even more, they won't even make new clinics, they are repurposing other clinics for specialized healthcare to make room for this policy
cool now we have universal access to a declining healthcare system where nobody wants to go because it is less stressful to just suck it up and medicate yourself (you would be paying for the meds anyway) instead of spending a whole day waiting inside a clinic on the summer heat with no AC
and that's if you are lucky enough to be in an urban area, rural clinics are in even worse conditions and anything other than a flu would require you to go to a city (as you said, an hour drive minimum but way more depending on the area)
Americans are already going there for cheaper health care. My dentist recommended some expensive work, and when I told him it cost too much, HE suggested I go to Mexico, and get it done for a third the cost.
And Mexico makes that easy in a lot of border areas. You can throw rocks between dental offices and pharmacies in Palomas. Walk across the border and not even show ID, until you to come back.
You joke, but people overusing the free Healthcare is a problem.
I have a few friends/family working on both social security and state hospitals (the free healthcare mentioned in the article). There are a lot of users who are not sick and still go religiously to get appointments or try to hoard medicine. It's not a huge issue in the big picture but they do end up taking the limited time and resources from people who actually need it at the time.
The staff at the hospital knows them but they get the same attention as everyone, in case it is actually real this time.
Yay! Also Mexico got free healthcare before the U.S.A. and North Korea may get a female leader before the U.S.A. gets a female president. Truly 'murica
Mexico's was fragmented aoarenrly so these steps are harmonizing it all.
.“The objective is that any citizen can attend any health institution and be guaranteed full and free coverage.”
That line captures the structural change at the center of the 2027 plan—not just expanding coverage, but eliminating the fragmentation that has historically defined Mexico’s system.
It's almost like there is an exceptional amount of things happening right now in the world. We all have our own local issues and sometimes it takes a minute to catch up on what happened else where.
I'm just learning about it. I don't care that 2 months have passed. It's very uplifting and would be even if I already knew about it.
What the hell is your problem with it not being new enough? Why are you gate keeping here?
Please stop being a nuisance. If you have a legitimate concern about this then just come out and say it. Stop being an asshole.
And remember the old saying, if you don't have anything nice to say, shut the fuck up and mind your own business. This isn't hurting ANYONE to be reminded of it, and if someone, such as myself, is learning about it for the first time why are you trying to take that away from me. Today I'm one of the 10,000. Perhaps tomorrow you will be.
Hang on. Nothing is for free, but bravo Mexico for socializing medical care through taxation. The USA should be taking notes to extinguish their massive healthcare dumpster fire.
Useless gesture when we have no medical supplies, meds, or just fucking AC inside our hospitals in cities where we have temps over 100°F/40 °C every day
Seriously, these are empty laws. "Universal healthcare" without any public health budget.
I can tell you what we get here: very cheap private primary care.
Public primary care is so awful and precarious, average MD doesn't want to work there, average Mexican citizens (like me) doesn't get there for cold or a minor health issue.
Many drugstore chains (even Mexican Walmart) employ MDs and offer cheap (~USD$5) consultation service and offer very cheap drugs (generic formulas).
For a common throat infection is nuts to wait days for a "free" health care, with almost no drugs stocks, and wait more than a week for a precarious lab work, when you can go to any drugstore MD (~USD$5) any day, get a cheap lab work any day (non profits private medical laboratory and chains, <USD$15 for a bacterial profile), a get all the treatment (antibiotic and painkillers) by less than USD$20 (even less with discounts).
Is cheap even for our economic standards.
Medical specialists are expensive, but way cheaper than USA. You can access a cardiologist, neurologist, urologist for around USD$40 to USD$75 the visit.
You can die here before a public hospital appointment for a specialist (months to a year backlogs)
Why so cheap? Private insurance here is a (very expensive) joke. Cost too much for 95% of the citizens. People pay directly for services, some even tolerate public health services. Market adapts with cheap services for common health issues.
If you got a rare cancer or illness and not in the private insurance umbrella, you are almost dead. You can read about our infamous survival cancer rate on public health institutions.
I am a low income Mexican citizen with some chronic health issues, I pay for my healthcare and meds.
si señor ya me cayo disculpe usted por querer hablar de mi experiencia siendo mexicano
soy un pobre indio tonto que no conozco mi lugar y deberia estar agradecido de poder compartir este lugar con gente como usted
edit: well it's clear to me this is an english speaking space, but I don't know why I expected something else from a mostly liberal space where people outside of my country will try to shut me and tell me I'm wrong while they live in a country rich thanks to colonialism
hope you enjoy your 'uplifting news', hope they make you happy and you will never have to step into an IMSS clinic in your privileged life
Browsers have translate functions these days. Reply in whatever language you like …. Or at least a supported one. I see what you said and assume it was meant sarcastically
it's the irony for me, trying to shut me off for talking about the situation in my own country while I'm doing to effort to communicate in their language
No no no, the firefighters SAID they are connecting their hoses but in reality there are no hoses, they spent that money for the hoses on something else and people have to put out the fire by themselves
There is a difference between putting something in paper and actually putting policy in action
Dang, I guess they shouldn't have made this law then, huh? What a waste of time trying to create the legislative framework to improve things when obviously its futile to try to improve things. We should just accept that things are currently bad, and that they'll never get better, right?
man what a waste of bits for this comment, yeah I guess, next time we will put a law to end world hunger?
but go off, it's not like we have an issue where healthcare quality is declining in Mexico while the government is spending money on projects like Tren Maya, AIFA or more fossil fuels...
I'm amazed by you people, you will complain (rightfully) that trump has wasted a lot of money on his shitty war and his shitty ballroom while their people are suffering but when a self proclaimed 'leftist' gov does the same shit you will believe whatever they say at face value and ignore what the actual citizens have to say about it
Genuine question, is the article posted painting the wrong picture as well? Its conclusions for example:
It’s unlikely to fully deliver on its universal promise by 2028 unless funding, staffing, and state-level coordination improve sharply. But even so, the most likely outcome is meaningful improvement in access and coordination, especially in emergencies and underserved areas. It likely won’t be a seamless or fully equal national health service in the near term, but if things go according to plan, there will be improvement.
Still, without sustained increases in public health spending, universal access could become a bottleneck rather than a breakthrough. Mexico also has to improve its labor retention, and lastly, ensure digital execution.
If it works though, it could be a remarkable achievement. It’s a pivot away from the US-style employment-tethered chaos and toward a unified, digital-first “National Health Service” like in Canada, the UK, or Europe (but with more biometric tech).
To me it seems like it raises concerns similar to the ones I’ve seen here, but still has a kind-of-hopeful outlook. Am I missing something?
Seems like a step in the right direction to better serve the people, as opposed to trumping being many steps in the wrong direction for personal enrichment to the detriment of the people.
You see how some americans still support trump because the only media they consume will feed them lies about how he wants the country to prosper but he keeps getting sabotaged or something?
Well it's the same shit here, while our government will say all this, they are getting richer with illegal oil bypassing out taxes and giving huge contracts to their family and friends
(oh yeah and we are not even touching the topic of all the foreign projects approved by our gov that will destroy a lot of our natural reservations)
I can see how you are ignorant of our current situation in México
you can't see how it is useless? I'm telling you it is useless because there is no real access to quality healthcare and giving you examples on how dismissive you all are about this issue just because on paper we are moving to the right direction
cool I guess I moved the goalpost by giving you more context on my country
me sorprende la autoridad con la que vienen a hablar los extranjeros de nuestra situación. entiendo que en lemmy muchos somos de izquierda pero si realmente creen que el gobierno actual de México ve por los intereses del proletariado pues están bien pendejos y probablemente lo sean si son gringos
Better put their own wall up before the Americans start pouring in.
"I told you Mexico would pay for it!"
I was literally just thinking retiring to Mexico doesn't sound terrible in the future.
Climate change is not boding well for Mexico unfortunately. You can expect severe water shortages in the coming decades.
Yeah, that's true.
But in Mexico the remaining water is less likely to be hoarded by billionaires, so you might still have better access to water after all.
Can we make communities that are underground? Like fallout or silo
Humans don't do very well without exposure to sunlight.
You can manufacture fish-eye glass domes that sit on the surface and lead to mirror-walled tubes that parascopically carry the sunlight to the deeper into the catacombs and distribute it to each chamber.
The outlets could basically just be slightly convex glass discs to fill the whole space with light, with simple aperture adjustments to control the amount of light in the room.
Take your daily vitamin D pill!
Fucking colonizers, man.
if you want the lifestyle. areas with many expats have higher prices. lake chapala area is one. speak spanish
"Expats" code word for fortune seeking migrant
Hopefully they'll just use steel slats!
Impenetrable!
This has been happening for several decades. My grandmother used to take regular trips across the border from Corpus Cristi to get her meds at pennies on the dollar.
I get the joke but maybe the opposite. Americans already did cross the border for cheap healthcare. If public healthcare means that only citizens get it, that business will dry up
They already are. They work remote jobs in the US and call themselves Digital Nomads 🙄
not free; tax funded
Which is great! Taxes should be invested in citizens’ needs.
Free as in "free at the point of service".
Of course it is paid for somehow.
But as far a a someone going into a hospital to get a cast, medicine, birth... It's free
That’s true. Unfortunately, calling it free is often used by people who want to paint it as infeasible, and is used as an excuse to cut funding—even when data shows it’s an investment with human and monetary rewards.
Conservative America is driven so hard by the fear of somebody poorer than you getting something you're not.
America wants things to be free when it’s for themselves, but not to pay a dime to benefit anyone else
As far as everyone except oligarchs are concerned, it means everyone can access it without getting financially fucked over into debt. And that's excellent news.
incorrect slightly- while most boomer and right wing assholes know it means free at point of service and tax funded they act like it means “free for welfare queens and illegals” because they think daddy capitalist is watching them lick boots.
Hey, are you saying we get free police
You get free police beatings. And if you're stopped they will empty the money out of your wallet as "civil asset forfeiture". So not exactly a cost but not exactly free.
I like to compare it to someone sitting in math class, the lesson is on square numbers and they go "a square is a shape though". Everyone who actually paid attention knows the relation between the concepts and doesn't need to compensate ignorance with smug pedantry.
Only in one place, don’t paint everyone like the USA.
Yes I mean nothing is free if we try to be strict about it. The word would have no meaning. I think we all understand “sold at zero price” but there are always people in the crowd who want to pop up and say “it’s not free! someone pays!” Typically their next move is to start breaking down who pays and why it’s unfair. I have no patience for them.
I dont have patience for those people either, but in general a lot of people feel taxes are the state taking away money. Where i live this is true for large corpo's and rich folk ('the state should not waste money on things people can pay for by themselves' is how they tend to put it here), but also by people with low wages tend to complain about how the state robs them. Reminding them how things they use are funded by the taxes they pay (roads, hospitals, police, education) can help them; because here they tend to fall for the retoric of the parties serving the rich and they sometimes truly believe the country would be nicer if they paid less taxes (not understanding they would have much more trouble paying for things like education and healthcare). For that reason I much prefer 'tax-funded healthcare/public transport/education', as calling it free is like giving a weapon to the group of people and corporations trying to lower their tax burden (and getting out of their responsibilities as the heavy lifters of funding public services).
Even setting aside the deceptive propaganda around this, “they” meaning right wing voters of modest means, still have two problems with tax funded services of any kind. The government may not be “taking money away” as in making it vanish, but they are taking away the choice of how that money should be spent. Conservatives see a moral hazard here where their taxes will pay for the poor lifestyle choices of others - and actually they are right, just not the way they think they are. It’s not abortions for slutty brown women they should worry about but metabolic syndrome brought on by their own white neighbors horrible diets that will burden the system most.
Their other problem is they don’t want to benefit from this kind of public good themselves. They see it as “taking charity” and although white people accept plenty of advantages, they like to stay proud about it. It doesn’t help to say “look, you’re getting something here.” So there just isn’t any way of making them comfortable with the setup, even when it isn’t being grossly distorted to them.
The whole “I don’t take no charity” is a very old American value and part of a complex system we have for giving people ways to feel superior to others. We don’t have a formal class system in this society but we service the same instincts in a hundred other small ways. Farm subsidies? Of course! Do you know how important farmers are? Healthcare supports? What… so I can pay for abortions for some illegal immigrant who couldn’t keep her legs closed?
We’re terminally stupid here and everything is about feels I don’t see how we’ll ever get past all this.
I see a moral choice where my taxes will pay for the poor political choices of conservatives in poorer red states, but they also deserve free healthcare
There are so many health services that can be delivered en masse at very little cost. I once lived in a “3rd world” country with state sponsored healthcare. They had an army of nurses in shop storefronts delivering vaccines and basic meds for common illnesses. Just walk in. Nothing fancy - one of them literally reused hypodermic needles after sterilizing them with a bunsen burner. But how fancy does it actually need to be?
That's a thing in the US too, by the way. You can walk into a pharmacy or some grocery stores and get cheap/free vaccines for the current flu strain as well as the standard immunizations for a bunch of common diseases.
Most people don't take advantage of it.
True that’s how I get my flu shots and such. It’s often extremely modest accommodations. Once my feet were resting on a pile of discarded coat hangers and other detritus from the drugstore’s retail floor.
It’s unfortunate that vaccinations somehow became political because it’s a great example of public health efforts for all being cheap with huge benefits
I agree, as a Canadian even if not perfect I couldn't imagine having a pay system or even what the US calls healthcare. That's the point of taxation, we get roads that are drivable, healthcare that is affordable and stuff like food standards, clean drinking water, education. The billionaires are trying to say everyone else doesn't need such things so they can get a bigger nibble of the pie when they already have truckloads.
also money is fictional so i consider it "free" if it helps the people actually.
There is “free as in beer” and “free as in speech” — this is “free as in theme park rides.”
You already paid.
Luckily the US built a border wall so Mexico won't be overflooded with illegal immigrants trying to profit the free health care.
too late. migration started years ago. as long as the gringos bring money.
Careful what you wish for. I don't want them in my country, even if they bring money. They fuck everything up. I'm not anti immigrants and refugees, they are welcome, they should be treated better, like equals which sadly isn't always the case in my country. But Americans are a different story. There are some proper Americans, I have a few American friends that are proper, but in general I don't like to have Americans around.
Even their money can fuck everything up. Like raise property prices so locals can't buy property anymore. Same with groceries etc.
It's better to keep them isolated in their own mess. Otherwise they will leave the mess they made to create more mess where you live, then to go somewhere else after that. Irresponsible and selfish people will only bring misery onto others.
In the movie Team America they have a nice saying. "There are pussies, dicks and assholes". Right now Americans are the assholes. They need to get fucked "otherwise you will have all your pussies and dicks all covered in shit."
Right now? Americans have always been the assholes. Ask the Natives.
I stand corrected, you are totally right.
And all their slaves (including the current legal slaves who are incarcerated)
The Vietnamese, Kmer, Iraqis, Iranians, Cubans, pffff....
Wait. It's easier to list the ones that don't think they are assholes: Israel (bigger assholes), eeeehm.... Oh yeah, themselves as they are self-centered AF. End of the list.
Honestly, you're getting a bad bias from the kinds of Americans that currently are immigrating there. The important thing to understand is you don't want the Americans with money, you want the Americans without any money that are willing to work and help other people out. Lol. See, what you've got right now are all of the rich assholes that don't care about the culture or people of where they're moving to - they just want to live like kings in a cheap city that they can turn into an asshole bubble that prices all of the normal people out. Rich people are leeches. Ultimately, the world would be a better place with open borders everywhere, but no rich assholes. Think about why borders even exist. In what world does it matter? The only reason is ultimately just rich assholes not wanting to dilute their wealth. The best thing we can do at this point is to convince them to go to Mars and leave them there.
No, he really isn't.
Happy cake day!
You can replace "muricans" with "rich immigrants".
For corrupt/conservative governments, rich immigrants are cool, and called investors.
Poor immigrants are terrorists.
How will this impact the medical tourism industry that Americans depend on for affordable healthcare?
You're not kidding. Some towns like Los Algodones built their entire economy around medical tourism.
I'm sure it will persist, as it primarily services Americans. And their money is still good.
If anything, we'll see the Mexican health care system expand in order to absorb all the domestic residents who can now afford the same care
Wel now it will be called Los Aldogones
I'm sure you need to be a Mexican citizen to qualify for the program, I imagine foreigners get a bill. But I'm an American that expects a crippling bill from medical care so I have a bias.
In some countries they don't even have the financial infrastructure to bill patients, so injured tourists get free health care. A big chunk of American medical bills is due to the cost of billing.
Which countries? Asking for a friend
I never went to surgery or anything, but I've been to a couple of Drs in Mexico and it's basically just like paying the copay and just peacing out. Most of the time you can just ask the pharmacist and they prescribe whatever right there.
You're overestimating the American Healthcare system.
I have never overestimated the American healthcare system
The ones i know: Denmark, England, Sweden, Norway
But I would imagine that most other countries with unified tax paid healthcare would be the same.
In Denmark (and I would assume those other countries as well) it varies depending on the factors. If you are a foreigner but are living in Denmark, or if you are staying in Denmark for a job, then you can apply for the rights of free healthcare treatment, but if you are a tourist needing urgent care, and are not a citizen of the EU (or the Nordic countries), or under the age of 18, then you will be billed.
So there definitely is a financial infrastructure to bill in Denmark, even though its own citizens never see it. Without knowing it precisely I would also assume that the bill would be very reasonable compared to a bill for the same treatment in the US.
That's a bit fat-fetched....
That's true, they fetch it from America.
We have free at point of service health care in Canada for those signed up to the plan. You don't have to be a citizen just a resident and wait your 2 month grace period. For tourists and non signed up folks you pay the costs out of pocket, but they are reasonable compared to USA. A coworker wasn't here long enough for the signup and dislocated his shoulder. Hospital visit, xray, sling, etc $400
Hahahahaha my postoperative telephone follow up was $354 uninsured rate. 15 minutes on the phone.
It'll probably stay the same. This administration is very aware of these issues and I doubt they'll intervene. Private practice is already available to anyone who wants it, no questions asked.
Source: am Mexican living in Mexico
That's one of the things uasians don't understand. Universal health care doesn't mean there are no private hospitals or practices. It means you have a choice, but you are covered no matter what.
Don't worry americans don't use public healthcare in Mexico, otherwise they would actually understand the struggle to get it
They just use private healthcare since it is catered to them while being cheaper compared to the US (I worked on medical tourism, all the marketing for these clinics is targeted to americans; most of them don't even bother using Spanish on their ads)
Who's the shithole country now, America? 😂
Argentina
Mexican here. They are saying everything is free now, but there are not enough medicines, doctors or hospitals so is just a shallow gesture.
It's a step. Vs. medicines too expensive to buy, and doctors that you can't see for months who run you through the mill to get their numbers up. I can't say which is worse when the result is about the same. At least you have more of a chance now.
Kaiser was excellent when they only provided service to kiaser members. When the government stepped in, the whole system went to shit. They still have the same amount of doctors so the only thing that happened in now everyone gets shitty service and long wait times.
Sometimes the government getting involved isn't a good thing.
No country has enough medicine, doctors, or hospitals.
Mexico has around 25 Doctors per 100000 capita. That is lower than almost all European countries that averaged 40 Doctors per 100000 capita.
When it comes to nurses, the comparison is worse. 29/100000capita in Mexico and over 100/100000capita in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands. With no EU nation falling below 40/100000capita.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/doctors-per-capita-by-country
One probably needs to look at the demography as well. Half of Germany's healthcare workforce is probably busy explaining retirees not to drink beer to swallow up their pills at any given time
That is valuable context for sure, but the data doesn't illustrate wait times.
I'm from Canada which appears to have a similar ratio to Mexico (I don't consider our basic healthcare a "shallow gesture")
Wait times are long here, but twice as many doctors & hospitals would make the wait times only half as long, which would still be counted in years in some cases. So I don't believe that any country has "enough" or enough to make the wait times negligible, which is probably an unrealistic goal.
No you don't. You have three times as many nurses per 10k and more than 10% as many doctors per 10k.
I didn't find the nurses figures on the link. Within 10% is similar for doctors, but 300% of the nurses is a big difference for sure.
it's a shallow gesture here because wait times are longer than reported, if you are lucky enough attended in time, and even then you will probably have to pay for every medicine and if you need surgery you will have to pay for any materials used too
hope that clears the sentiment we have in Mexico regarding our public healthcare
America does. They just suffer from capitalism.
No we just don’t get medical care if there’s any way to avoid it. If it was free we’d have a doctor shortage instantly.
We already have a doctor shortage in a lot of places in the US, even without single payer healthcare :/
Part of it is due to private equity destroying private practice and buying up healthcare providers
Why isn't it free?
You're being deliberately obtuse. You smarmily answered your own question in your previous drivel comment.
Why do you think it's not free? I've got my answer, it's capitalism. Why isn't it free according to you?
We pay out the ass and still have to schedule a surgery 4 months out or just argue with insurance denials for cancer treatment until we die first. Show up to an ER with something that won't immediately kill you and be prepared to wait for 5 hours so a doctor can see you for literally 5 minutes. Nursing homes will bill you $4,000 a month to share a room while you wait to dies, with staff going down to like 2 people for 60 people after 7pm.
The only ones there's enough doctors for are the wealthy. Everywhere else your screwed, and also get billed into permanent debt. It's like $15,000 just to have a baby. Heart attack will run you six figures .
Free with crazy wait times is still surely better than expensive with crazy wait times?
How is it a shallow gesture when people can now get the care, instead of just dying or suffering?
Well their original comment alluded to people not being able to get care because there aren't enough medicines, doctors, or hospitals.
I hope they answer you, because I know nothing about what's going on there, but I'm fairly certain that was their point.
that's the reality here, there are not even enough beds for people coming to any public hospital
people are expected to sit in chairs for hours or days waiting for surgery
Because healthcare has been free in Mexico for decades. This seems like the usual political posturing. Saying "healthcare is free" is an empty statement if people are turned away at the point of service because of a lack of medicine or service providers. Give them three months and then check again. Then you'll know if it was a shallow gesture or not.
But a cursory google search shows that it isn't currently free for everyone, and in particular tied to your employment status. This means that in your negotiations with your employer, your health is essentially a bargaining chip (and this is bad for you and your salary for obvious reasons). The new system abolishes this tie to employment. This is a huge step for workers and the unemployed alike. This is not a hollow gesture.
It is not part of your negotiations with your employer. You get health insurance through IMSS (social security) by law. It is not optional and the service is not tied to your salary. You can make millions, or minimum wage, your IMSS coverage would be the same.
We've had another coverage called "seguro popular", this has been free and not tied to employment since early 2000s. It was revamped and gutted by the previous president. The only requirement to get coverage was to not have coverage by IMSS. So, employed, you get IMSS. Unemployed, you got seguro popular.
So it is an empty gesture
Yes it is. A repeat of a previous comment:
And if you're unemployed?
It is linked to employment but equal and mandatory for all employees, so not quite a bargaining chip in the way it is in the usa
If you lose your job, you lose your coverage. That makes it a bargaining chip. The employer has one up on you in negotiations. When I negotiate my salary (my health insurance is not tied to my employment), I know that if I can't work it out with my (potential) employer, and I get sick, I'll be fine. Not so if my coverage was tied to employment. The pressure to accept an offer that's worse for me would be much higher.
Got it
Was it free for everyone? Or just select people?
exactly.
Paying for some supply through progressive taxes is better than everyone paying a flat rate, even if that supply is scarce.
I'm with you. I'm glad I pay taxes and they should make everyone's life better. The thing is we already had a good enough public healthcare system, but at the moment is falling way short of what it should be. It is worse than before, and there is an issue when critical medications are not in supply.
How are things generally?
Obviously I can only speak for myself and my perception. If reports are to be believed, I live in one of the most dangerous regions in the world. You can google el bajío or guanajuato. Day to day life is very good for me. I have a good enough job and my city is cheap compared to Mexico city. Distances are short and walkable. I have kids and there are many public places for them to play sports or just hang out.
Hard violent crime has slowed down. There were many drive by killings, at least 2 or 3 a week just a year ago, but now I hardly ever hear gunshots or news about new deaths. The main issue at the moment is paying for "protection", its happening everywhere and some business cant afford it. Despite of it, many new restaurants, cafés and other small business are opening.
As for healthcare, which was the subject of this post, I can get a private appointment with a really good doctor in less than a couple of days if not urgent, and it costs from 800 to 1200 pesos. Medicines go from really generic cheap, think about 200 pesos, to 3000 depending on what is needed.
If you have any more questions for anything that may tickle your curiosity Ill be glad to answer as best as I can.
But now you can say your healthcare system is as good as the one in the UK, which is nice. It's not like the US can say that.
Sounds like everywhere with actual free healthcare tbh. Here in Malaysia the healthcare has been free for decade, but doctor shortage, wad shortage is the common theme plaguing the sector, so the wait time for non-emergency treatment tend to be long. If you want quick service you can visit private healthcare.
This doesn't seems like a shallow gesture, this could actually pave the way for the future when the issue is under control.
The issue won't be under control anytime soon if ever, public healthcare has just been declining for the past two decades in Mexico and this won't fix anything in practice, just in paper
This stands out even more because we're in an era when even countries with Universal Healthcare have been walking back on it (as well as Social Security, Unions and other earlier Leftwing conquests) by privatizing them piecemeal through things like forced outsourcing of some services and public-private initiatives.
What's important to note is that these placed aren't going back on it because it doesn't work. They are going back on it because of back room deals made with corporate insurance lobbyists and their bought politicians. Profit is always the driving force for privatization.
Exactly.
You can just look at the experience of creating the National Health Service in the UK (there's a bunch of documentaries floating around) to see how it's an overall positive for Society by a large margin, not just directly but also indirectly because for example when people can go see a doctor for free they are far more likely to end up being treated for sickness early on (which its cheaper and easier) or to get treatment for debilitating but not life threatening conditions which in turn even gets reflected in higher Economic outcomes because healthier people are more productive.
Universal Healthcare Systems only "don't work" for those who are fatcats getting a slice of that sweet sweet 13%+ of national GDP (about 18% in the US) that goes into Healthcare in the average country.
Yes it's what's happening here in Canada and it's sickening. But it looks like it's better to blame the left for no reason, so why vote for them? Better keep slowly dismantling everything we collectively built instead!
I first saw that shit when I lived in Britain a decade ago, already at the hands of he who Thatcher called her "Greatest Achievement" (Tony Blair, who pivoted the Labour Party hard to the Right and away from a party representing the working class) and later directly at the hands of the Tories (Conservative Party).
Now that I'm back in my native Portugal (which also has a National Health service), the current rightwing government here is trying to do the same thing, tough not quite yet at the same point as NHS sneaky privatization was in Britain over a decade ago.
By the way, Mark Carney, now PM of Canada, was placed by and served as head of the Bank Of England for the Tories back when I was there, during which he was a great friend of bankers and presided over an economic period when in real terms the income of the lower 90% by wealth of the population was falling at about 1% per year, whilst that of the top 10% was growing at around 23%.
So, yeah, it does not surprise me at all, in any way form or shape, that Carney is working to make the fatcats fatter - same as he did in Britain - not for the good of most Canadians.
Yes I agree, Carney is just the latest one. We've been electing people that are dismantling everything for decades. The worst part isn't the federal, it's the provincial governments as they are the one who are in charge of most of our social programs. Here in Québec, they've been dismantling health care, social assistance program, infrastructures, education, child care and even one of the thing we're most proud of Hydro-Quebec. Everything so slowly that most of the people thinks its because of the unions or shit like that.
It's maddening to see people complaining about the decay of everything then turn around and elect the same type of people again that brought us there, but in another branding. And the only thing they will say is that they can't elect the alternative as they wear a hoodie... So stupid.
Like my parents, like everyone they were complaining of the last liberal government (which is akin to a conservative party that likes immigrants), so they wanted change. What did they do? They voted for the CAQ which is filled with conservatives and old boomers. The exact same type of people. Now they act surprised as they are not satisfied with them anymore, for the exact same reasons again. Next time they will probably vote for the PQ which has made a turn towards fascistic rethoric. The only alternative is QS, but a few members are anti-capitalists so they are now intelligible in their eyes. Oh and a member one time used to wear hoodies in parliament, that was such news worthy...
We're a bit luckier than in the US as we do have alternatives that are possible to elect, but most people are too dumb to give them a chance. Doesn't help that the whole media apparatus are for the statu quo and demonize the alternatives every chance they can.
Most people do not have the time to look beyond the propaganda and schemes that high net worth individuals invest in to ensure their own interests are the only ones served in the long run.
Weird, it's almost like there's a global class war going on where only one side is organized and doing the fighting. Also, that a big part of their campaign is to infiltrate any remotely left leaning political party to sabotage it from within. But that's crazy. I mean, if there were going to do something like that they'd also be constantly sowing conflict between left-learning centrists and leftists which only ever happens every single day on every single media and social media platform.
It's my impression that it's mainly the "center"-left parties (aka the larger ones) which got infiltrated, especially in countries with power duopolies thanks to Mathematically rigged voting systems like First Past The Post.
If you think about it, it makes total sense that Greedy Posh Salesmen-types with no principles whatsoever who want to get rich quick would be drawn to the two parties in power duopoly systems, were they will sell themselves to those who can reward them the best for their services, and those people certainly aren't the Poor or the Working Class.
I've concluded some years ago that the secret for Democracy to actually do what it says on the tin is constant change (the very opposite of those voting systems mathematically rigged for "stability") - rotten politicians must genuinely fear that if they sell themselves, they WILL end up out of power and the next ones in aren't going to be just "mates with a different pin on their lapel" so they are more likely than not to end up in jail for it.
Stability is necessary, otherwise, a country becomes ungovernable, but too much stability causes stagnation.
A tree must periodically shed its leaves and branches so that decay is slowed.
Still water soons turns into a swamp.
Same with politics.
There are big differences then. Where I live, we just got dental included in free healthcare, which is getting rolled out to more and more people in the next 10 years, where in the end everyone is included.
We already had free until age of 24 I think, but now they will go all the way. It's in Denmark btw.
I voted her for this kind of policies, but reality is not that simple. Public healthcare costs a lot of money, and current facilities and personnel are in the stone age. I wouldn't go to any public healthcare facility right now as my first choice. At least not where I live. Sustained investment and vigilance are key, and I hope that by the end of her mandate we will have something we could call a proper public healthcare system, not yet a decent one, but an existing one.
True. But private healthcare costs even more.
True. But it only matters if you are alive. Look, I'm not trying to be cynical, we have both systems in Mexico, and I've experienced both as a client. I'm all for public healthcare, but if it doesn't work, it's only a pretty idea. On the private side, yeah it's fucking expensive, but it kind of works for the ones who can afford it. Just to be clear, we agree.
Dr .Simi login.... (Very cheap Mexican drugstore chain, med labs and MDs consultation, even veterinary services on some cities)
A step in the right direction. Thank you for sharing the realism on a clickbait title.
Mexicano Tijuanense aquí, I concur
Although the voter ID registration for existing and new phone numbers is dumb as shit. Complete erosion of privacy.
Sí, esas mamadas qué?
This kinda thing doesn’t turn on over night. You might be able to afford private, but very few will be able to. The American paid system has a 3-9 month wait for doctor visits right now in Tucson. My doctor also doesn’t even physically examine me anymore because they’re so rushed to get in other patients, because capitalism.
Edit: not that capitalism is evil, it just has no place in healthcare.
I'm okay with both opinions of capitalism as evil or not. The American healthcare system is, sorry, it is dogshit. No one should be living under that system, it's only better than nothing at all, I guess.
As a Canadian living in the southwestern US because I physically cannot handle the cold, the healthcare here is worse than dog shit.
Still something better than the US, where some wait (or are poor so they just need to go to the ER) until the ER when it’s too late. The only prevention is those with regular insurance and use it.
Healthcare in Mexico has been free and public for decades. There are still paid private practices and having social security limits the public providers you can use but Article 77 Bis-1 of the General Health Law states that anyone without social security can be treated for free. That article was first published in 2002 and last modified in 2023. This is just the administration claiming that they enacted (excellent) old laws.
It was free for workers and a few administrations ago they implemented a free for all program that was mostly cancelled. They system was also divided by private workers and government workers with different quality of services , this tries to implement all services into one, hopefully it works but this administration has not been very good at the implementation phase of any project
yeah it's funny they come with some bs everytime and forget about it later
remember those stands outside of hospitals that were supposed to supply meds? or that 'mega' pharmacy?
"without social security can be treated"
I read that as without social media and had to back the truck up after a couple seconds lol
I think it's important to point out that this was for the formalized workers, not for all the actual workers. As all this decades past, less and less workers were recipients of social benefits, including healthcare. Work informality became an ally of cheap parallel healthcare systems as it became the new normal. This is not enacting dead laws only, the president is trying to fix the loophole between formalized workers and actual workers by truly universalizing healthcare to everyone, worker or not.
If you'd told any American 40 years ago that Mexico's democracy in 2026 would make Americas look pathetic, they'd have called you crazy and then beaten you up. Not so much anymore.
They'd probably still beat you up. And then shoot you.
USA! USA!
WOOO! FREEDOM!! MURICA!!
Booooorn in the USM
They probably still will…
Congratulations Mexico! It’s nice to read a positive article for once. Happy for everyone this allows a pathway to getting the healthcare treatment they deserve.
If you seriously don’t think Mexico has healthcare you need to take a step back and check your biases.
does having healthcare means having the right to access or actually receiving healthcare?
before you ask, I live in Mexico, so please enlighten me in how accessible is free healthcare in Mexico
I’m not certain what your question means. Are you saying that you personally have “free healthcare” but don’t have the right to use said healthcare? Because this reads like you are barred from healthcare for some reason.
Or are you saying that there are literally no healthcare providers in the country, or even within a “reasonable” distance, where reasonable can be up to an hour drive?
Edit: To be clear, I don’t think an hour drive is reasonable. But it’s a common thing in the US and Canada which most would agree “have healthcare.”
lol I'm not barred from healthcare, that is not the issue
the question is, what is healthcare to you? we don't have enough doctors, no medicines, no supplies, no beds, our hospitals are barely functional thanks to lack of maintenance.
instead of giving more funds to our public healthcare they are stretching it even more, they won't even make new clinics, they are repurposing other clinics for specialized healthcare to make room for this policy
cool now we have universal access to a declining healthcare system where nobody wants to go because it is less stressful to just suck it up and medicate yourself (you would be paying for the meds anyway) instead of spending a whole day waiting inside a clinic on the summer heat with no AC
and that's if you are lucky enough to be in an urban area, rural clinics are in even worse conditions and anything other than a flu would require you to go to a city (as you said, an hour drive minimum but way more depending on the area)
a lot hinges on that word "If", in your statement..
one joke.
You're a dick
Ah, so that's why the US is getting more aggressive towards Mexico. Can't have universal healthcare so close to the border.
Americans are already going there for cheaper health care. My dentist recommended some expensive work, and when I told him it cost too much, HE suggested I go to Mexico, and get it done for a third the cost.
And Mexico makes that easy in a lot of border areas. You can throw rocks between dental offices and pharmacies in Palomas. Walk across the border and not even show ID, until you to come back.
Have you heard of Canada
Can Ada what?
On both sides, lol.
Fuck. I really should have taken Spanish seriously back in High School after all
It isn't too late to finish learning Spanish :)
Just don't go for Duolingo
You can always come to Mexico to learn. Just try to avoid highly gentrified areas and you'll be fine. We are always happy to assist foreign people.
Now they are going to need a wall to keep american's out.
So, it is that easy. Crazy.
Always was
yeah it's easy when it's just a gesture and not a real compromise
hey guys I'm giving away free cupcakes in my house, you just need to bring everything to make it yourself!
But what if they abuse it by being like...sick?
This is going to be terrible for the shareholders and the health insurance companies!
You joke, but people overusing the free Healthcare is a problem.
I have a few friends/family working on both social security and state hospitals (the free healthcare mentioned in the article). There are a lot of users who are not sick and still go religiously to get appointments or try to hoard medicine. It's not a huge issue in the big picture but they do end up taking the limited time and resources from people who actually need it at the time.
The staff at the hospital knows them but they get the same attention as everyone, in case it is actually real this time.
I don't see how that's an argument for not doing this.
It's not, at all. Like I said, not really an issue. It's mostly that your joke reminded me of the situation than anything else
Too bad 3rd world countries like the US can't do that :(
Can we have health care, if Mexico pays for it?
It's suspicious that mainstream media never reports this.
Yay! Also Mexico got free healthcare before the U.S.A. and North Korea may get a female leader before the U.S.A. gets a female president. Truly 'murica
Must be fuckin’ nice 🫠
¡Viva México, cabrones!
Viva Mexico!
Literally have had this since the 1940s though
Mexico's was fragmented aoarenrly so these steps are harmonizing it all.
To be fair I thought they already had this.
Mexico better watch out. Idiocracy and The Day After Tomorrow were pre-cog documentaries
Why posting this 2-months old article now?
It was already posted here: https://lemmy.world/post/45454969
It's almost like there is an exceptional amount of things happening right now in the world. We all have our own local issues and sometimes it takes a minute to catch up on what happened else where.
I'm just learning about it. I don't care that 2 months have passed. It's very uplifting and would be even if I already knew about it.
What the hell is your problem with it not being new enough? Why are you gate keeping here?
Please stop being a nuisance. If you have a legitimate concern about this then just come out and say it. Stop being an asshole.
And remember the old saying, if you don't have anything nice to say, shut the fuck up and mind your own business. This isn't hurting ANYONE to be reminded of it, and if someone, such as myself, is learning about it for the first time why are you trying to take that away from me. Today I'm one of the 10,000. Perhaps tomorrow you will be.
Better late than never.
2/10,000
Mossad and the cia are going to go there to arm criminals plant terrorists destroy all hope
Didn't Iran just execut 2000 of them?
better watch out for uncle sam
Hang on. Nothing is for free, but bravo Mexico for socializing medical care through taxation. The USA should be taking notes to extinguish their massive healthcare dumpster fire.
Free to the user at the time they need it and after they leave.
Seriously dude no one doesn't understand that
Damn! I'm about to go get the free shit in Mexico!
Maybe they will get tired of subsidizing medical care for illegal immigrants and build a wall!
Oh just like Israel?
...huh?
Useless gesture when we have no medical supplies, meds, or just fucking AC inside our hospitals in cities where we have temps over 100°F/40 °C every day
It's a start.
not even a start, we already had free healthcare programs not tied to employment before
Stfu you don't know how lucky you are
Seriously, these are empty laws. "Universal healthcare" without any public health budget.
I can tell you what we get here: very cheap private primary care.
Public primary care is so awful and precarious, average MD doesn't want to work there, average Mexican citizens (like me) doesn't get there for cold or a minor health issue.
Many drugstore chains (even Mexican Walmart) employ MDs and offer cheap (~USD$5) consultation service and offer very cheap drugs (generic formulas).
For a common throat infection is nuts to wait days for a "free" health care, with almost no drugs stocks, and wait more than a week for a precarious lab work, when you can go to any drugstore MD (~USD$5) any day, get a cheap lab work any day (non profits private medical laboratory and chains, <USD$15 for a bacterial profile), a get all the treatment (antibiotic and painkillers) by less than USD$20 (even less with discounts).
Is cheap even for our economic standards.
Medical specialists are expensive, but way cheaper than USA. You can access a cardiologist, neurologist, urologist for around USD$40 to USD$75 the visit.
You can die here before a public hospital appointment for a specialist (months to a year backlogs)
Why so cheap? Private insurance here is a (very expensive) joke. Cost too much for 95% of the citizens. People pay directly for services, some even tolerate public health services. Market adapts with cheap services for common health issues.
If you got a rare cancer or illness and not in the private insurance umbrella, you are almost dead. You can read about our infamous survival cancer rate on public health institutions.
I am a low income Mexican citizen with some chronic health issues, I pay for my healthcare and meds.
si señor ya me cayo disculpe usted por querer hablar de mi experiencia siendo mexicano
soy un pobre indio tonto que no conozco mi lugar y deberia estar agradecido de poder compartir este lugar con gente como usted
edit: well it's clear to me this is an english speaking space, but I don't know why I expected something else from a mostly liberal space where people outside of my country will try to shut me and tell me I'm wrong while they live in a country rich thanks to colonialism
hope you enjoy your 'uplifting news', hope they make you happy and you will never have to step into an IMSS clinic in your privileged life
Browsers have translate functions these days. Reply in whatever language you like …. Or at least a supported one. I see what you said and assume it was meant sarcastically
it's the irony for me, trying to shut me off for talking about the situation in my own country while I'm doing to effort to communicate in their language
I'm not a stranger to the way americans treat us
cierra la puta boca
que agradable sujeto
That's a bit like yelling at firefighters for wasting time connecting their hoses when they should be putting the fire out.
No no no, the firefighters SAID they are connecting their hoses but in reality there are no hoses, they spent that money for the hoses on something else and people have to put out the fire by themselves
There is a difference between putting something in paper and actually putting policy in action
Dang, I guess they shouldn't have made this law then, huh? What a waste of time trying to create the legislative framework to improve things when obviously its futile to try to improve things. We should just accept that things are currently bad, and that they'll never get better, right?
man what a waste of bits for this comment, yeah I guess, next time we will put a law to end world hunger?
but go off, it's not like we have an issue where healthcare quality is declining in Mexico while the government is spending money on projects like Tren Maya, AIFA or more fossil fuels...
I'm amazed by you people, you will complain (rightfully) that trump has wasted a lot of money on his shitty war and his shitty ballroom while their people are suffering but when a self proclaimed 'leftist' gov does the same shit you will believe whatever they say at face value and ignore what the actual citizens have to say about it
Genuine question, is the article posted painting the wrong picture as well? Its conclusions for example:
To me it seems like it raises concerns similar to the ones I’ve seen here, but still has a kind-of-hopeful outlook. Am I missing something?
Seems like a step in the right direction to better serve the people, as opposed to trumping being many steps in the wrong direction for personal enrichment to the detriment of the people.
I can see how you could confuse them …. NOT
You see how some americans still support trump because the only media they consume will feed them lies about how he wants the country to prosper but he keeps getting sabotaged or something?
Well it's the same shit here, while our government will say all this, they are getting richer with illegal oil bypassing out taxes and giving huge contracts to their family and friends
(oh yeah and we are not even touching the topic of all the foreign projects approved by our gov that will destroy a lot of our natural reservations)
I can see how you are ignorant of our current situation in México
Well now you’re moving the goalposts. At first you were just complaining that this step in the right direction is useless.
you can't see how it is useless? I'm telling you it is useless because there is no real access to quality healthcare and giving you examples on how dismissive you all are about this issue just because on paper we are moving to the right direction
cool I guess I moved the goalpost by giving you more context on my country
me sorprende la autoridad con la que vienen a hablar los extranjeros de nuestra situación. entiendo que en lemmy muchos somos de izquierda pero si realmente creen que el gobierno actual de México ve por los intereses del proletariado pues están bien pendejos y probablemente lo sean si son gringos