Partners’ HPSR report – 2021

Mexico

Overview 

Interest in HPSR has increased in Mexico over the past 10 years, with 46 HPSR-related institutions identified in the country: most of them located in the capital, Mexico City. Half of these institutions are among the country’s small but highly active private non-profit think tanks, as well as university units focused on social and economic policy, advocacy and accountability. Public institutions account for 12 of the institutions identified, as they have also strengthened their HPSR focus and remain the strongest players. A further six institutions are international organizations, with local NGOs and hospitals accounting for the remainder. There is no available estimate for Mexico’s national health research budget, but funding for HPSR from public financing sources has surged since 2003.

Institutions by type

List of HPSR institutions

NameLocationType
Anahuac University (Anahuac) | Universidad AnáhuacHuixquilucan, MexicoUniversity
Autonomous Metropolitan University of Xochimilco (UAM-X) | Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-XochimilcoCiudad de México, MexicoUniversity
Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL) | Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo LeónMonterrey, MexicoUniversity
Autonomous University of Queretaro (UAQ) | Universidad Autónoma de QuerétaroSantiago de Querétaro, MexicoUniversity
Belisario Dominguez Institute (Senate of the Republic) (IBD) | Instituto Belisario Domínguez (Senado de la República)Ciudad de México, MexicoGovernment
Center for Public Finance Studies of the Chamber of Deputies (CEFP) | Centro de Estudios de las Finanzas Públicas de la Cámara de DiputadosCiudad de México, MexicoGovernment
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) | Comisión Económica para América Latina y el CaribeCiudad de México, MexicoInternational agency/NGO
FLACSO Mexico (FLACSO) | FLACSO MéxicoCiudad de México, MexicoUniversity
Guadalajara University (UDG) | Universidad de GuadalajaraGuadalajara, MexicoUniversity
Health Sciences Institute, Veracruz University l Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad VeracruzanaUniversidad VeracruzanaXalapa, MexicoUniversity
Health Systems Research Centre, National Institute of Public Health (CISS) | Centro de Investigación en Sistemas de Salud del Instituto Nacional de Salud PüblicaCuernavaca, MexicoUniversity
Iberoamerican University – Puebla (Ibero Puebla) | Universidad Iberoamericana-PueblaPuebla, MexicoUniversity
Ignacio Chavez National Cardiology Institute (INC IC) | Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio ChávezCiudad de México, MexicoGovernment
Institute of Economic and Business Research (ININEE) | Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas y EmpresarialesMorelia, MexicoUniversity
Institute of Legal Research of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM – Juridicas) | Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad de México, MexicoUniversity
International Labor Organization (ILO Mexico) | Organización Internacional del TrabajoCiudad de México, MexicoInternational agency/NGO
Legislature of the Mexican Congress (Diputados) | Honorable Cámara de Diputados LXIV LegislaturaCiudad de México, MexicoGovernment
Medica Sur Clinical Foundation (FCMS) | Fundación Clínica Médica SurCiudad de México, MexicoHospital/health service provider
Mexican Health Foundation (FUNSALUD) | Fundación Mexicana para la SaludCiudad de México, MexicoLocal NGO
Mexican Institute for Competitivity (IMCO) | Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad A.C.Ciudad de México, MexicoLocal NGO
Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) | Instituto Mexicano de la Seguridad SocialCiudad de México, MexicoGovernment
Mexico Against Impunity and Corruption (CLC) | México Contra la Impunidad y la CorrupciónCiudad de México, MexicoLocal NGO
National Academy of Medicine (ANMM) | Academia Nacional de Medicina Ciudad de México, MexicoLocal NGO
National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad de México, MexicoUniversity
National Cancer Institute (INCAN) | Instituto Nacional de CancerologíaCiudad de México, MexicoGovernment
National Commission of Medical Arbitrage (CONAMED) | Comisión Nacional de Árbitraje MédicoCiudad de México, MexicoGovernment
National Commission on Social Protection and Health (CNPSS) | Comisión Nacional de Protección Social en SaludCiudad de México, MexicoGovernment
National Geriatric Institute (ING) | Instituto Nacional de GeriatríaCiudad de México, MexicoUniversity
National Politics and Social Development Evaluation Council (CONEVAL) | Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo SocialCiudad de México, MexicoGovernment
National Public Health Institute (INSP) | Instituto Nacional de Salud PúblicaCuernavaca, MexicoUniversity
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD Mexico) | Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo EconómicosCiudad de México, MexicoInternational agency/NGO
Politics, Population and Health Research Centre, National Autonomous University of Mexico (CIPPS) | Centro de Investigación en Políticas, Población y Salud de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad de México, MexicoUniversity
Population Health Research Centre, National Institute of Public Health (CIPS) | Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional del Instituto Nacional de Salud PúblicaCuernavaca, MexicoUniversity
ProMéxico (ProMéxico)Ciudad de México, MexicoGovernment
Ramón de La Fuente National Institute of Psychiatry (INPRF) | Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de La FuenteCiudad de México, MexicoGovernment
Salles Sainz – Grant Thornton S.C (SS – GT)Ciudad de México, MexicoIndependent research centre/Policy think thank
Salvador Zubiran National Medical and Nutrition Sciences Institute (INCMNSZ) | Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador ZubiránCiudad de México, MexicoGovernment
School of Economics, Mexico National Autonomous University (UNAM) | Facultad de Economia de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad de México, MexicoUniversity
School of Medicine, Veracruz University (UVSM) | Facultad de Medicina sede Minatitlán de la Universidad VeracruzanaMinatitlán, MexicoUniversity
Simon Bolivar University – Mexico (USBBOG) | Universidad Simón Bolívar – MexicoCiudad de México, MexicoUniversity
The College of Mexico (Colmex) | El Colegio de MéxicoCiudad de México, MexicoUniversity
United Nations Development Program (UNDP Mexico) | Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el DesarrolloCiudad de México, MexicoInternational agency/NGO
University Health Research Programme, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (PUIS) | Programa Universitario de Investigación en Salud de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad de México, MexicoUniversity
Wilson Center Mexico Institute (Mexican Institute)MexicoInternational agency/NGO
World Bank (WB) | Banco MundialCiudad de México, MexicoInternational agency/NGO
Zero Shortages (#CeroDesabasto) | #CeroDesabasto impulsado por Nosotrxs A.C.Ciudad de México, MexicoUniversity

Knowledge generation 

Knowledge generation work is undertaken mainly by the Health Systems Research Centre at the National Institute of Public Health (CISS), the Center for Research in Policies, Population and Health of UNAM (CIPPS), and Veracruz University. These institutes lead the evaluation of health policies and programmes, the analysis of care networks, and the assessment of strategies for health services integration (with a focus on quality and cost-effectiveness). The COVID-19 pandemic also led to a focus on training and on the systematization of experiences in terms of strategies for prevention, care and mitigation.

The National Institute of Geriatrics generates knowledge on long-term care. The Autonomous Metropolitan University-Xochimilco (UAM-X) leads the analysis of health policies in the context of markets and human rights with a focus on universal coverage, neoliberal health reforms and alternatives among progressive governments worldwide. El Colegio de México produces knowledge on health inequalities and the fragmented response by health institutions, while Anahuac University is a pioneer in implementation research and in the analysis of public-private collaboration.

The number of HPSR-related reports has increased slightly, rising from 37 in 2018 to 45 in 2020.

Average number of reports produced per institution each year in Mexico and overall


Engaging policy-makers and the public 

HPSR has a particularly strong influence on health policy. CISS researchers, for example, participate in various expert groups that advise the Ministry of Health. These include the External Advisory Group for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, and the groups working on the coordination for the review and update of the health programmes and the reform of the General Health Law in 2020.

The National Institute of Geriatrics has promulgated a decree on long-term care and has participated in the review of regulations on disability and in the Technical Committee for Coordination of the National Policy in Favor of Older Adults. UAM-X has promoted the critical analysis of health policies and programmes at the local, state, regional and national levels.

With a smaller emphasis on policy, Veracruz University has participated in the implementation of clinical interventions in the COVID-19 pandemic, while CIPPS has established collaboration networks with public and private institutions to promote the analysis and evaluation of policies and programmes.

The number of meetings with policy-makers each year is high and continues to rise: increasing from 98 in 2018 to 125 in 2020, with CISS accounting for almost half of the 2020 meetings. The number of HPSR-related newspaper articles to reach the public has surged from just 19 in 2018 to 76 in 2020, with almost one quarter of these generated by CISS.

Average number of meetings held with policy-makers per institution each year in Mexico and overall


Average number of media articles published per institution each year in Mexico and overall


Academic and institutional capacity 

The institutions with the greatest capacity are the CISS, UAM-X, and CIPSS. CISS has an internationally accredited Master’s degree in Public Health with a focus on Health Administration, as well as a Doctorate programme and various HPSR-relevant diplomas and short courses. CISS has teaching collaboration agreements with universities and national and international institutions and coordinates the HPSR programme of the biennial Congress on Public Health Research.

UAM-X offers a Master’s in Social Medicine and a Doctorate in Collective Health Sciences and participates in national and international teaching networks. It has extensive collaboration across diverse institutions, including the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) through a Social Studies for Health working group.

CIPPS supports HPSR teaching through UNAM’s Doctorate in Health Sciences and offers short courses on intervention effectiveness evaluation, collaborating with national and international institutions. El Colegio de México created a network of studies on inequalities, which includes the health of populations among its cross-cutting themes. Veracruz University has Master’s and Doctorate programmes in Health Sciences with specializations available in HPSR.

Mexico’s HPSR faculty totalled 270 in 2020, and 556 students were reported to be participating in HPSR-related courses.

Total number of HPSR faculty and staff

Total number of participants in HPSR-related short courses


HPSR financing

While there are no available figures for Mexico’s current national health research budget, HPSR in Mexico saw a surge in public financing following the establishment of diverse research trust funds and mechanisms in 2003. As a result, public health institutions and state governments, together with the Science and Technology Institute (CONACYT), allocated funding in response to institutional and state priorities, overseen by academics and institutional authorities.

These funds grew at an average annual rate of 3.5% between 2003 and 2010. By 2010, health research funding amounted to US$ 413 million, equivalent to 1.06% of Mexico’s public health spending. HPSR funding across this period amounted to 4.4% of total health research funding and 0.05% of health spending. By 2010, HPSR funding amounted to US$ 1.25 million.

HPSR funding increased between 2018 and 2020 from around US$ 475 000 to just over US$ 640 000. However, this upward trend is now in jeopardy because the public trust funds held by the Mexican Agency for Science and Technology (CONACYT) that protected research were wound up in 2020. This was the result of a financial crisis, coupled with a policy of increasing control of the federal budget by the Ministry of Finance.

Total institutional expenditure


Credits and disclaimers

Partners’ health policy and systems research report, 2021

WHO/SCI/HSR/21.1

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