In Mexico, the sixteenth century
Badianus Manuscript described medicinal plants available in Central America. Dr. Erick Estrada Lugo, Researcher-Professor in
Phytotechnics at the State of Mexico's
Chapingo Autonomous University, told the
National Autonomous University of Mexico's digital magazine that "at least 90% of the population uses
medicinal plants," citing figures from Mexico's Secretariat of Health. These include plants like
Aloe vera,
Arnica, and
Valeriana. Hospitals were established in Mexico in the early 16th century, including ones exclusively for Indians. Some were established by the crown, others by private endowment, but most by the Catholic Church. Bishop
Vasco de Quiroga established hospital complexes in
Michoacan in the sixteenth century. In
Mexico City, conqueror
Hernán Cortés established the
Hospital de Jesús Nazareno for Indians, which still functions as a hospital. The
Hospicio Cabañas in
Guadalajara,
Jalisco, Mexico, was founded in 1791. It is still functioning and is now a
World Heritage Site. It is one of the oldest and largest hospital complexes in
Latin America. The complex was founded by the Bishop of Guadalajara to combine the functions of a
workhouse, hospital,
orphanage, and
almshouse. The Mexican healthcare program, as we know it today, has its base on the creation of several health codes that ran during the first part of the 20th century. In 1943, the
Mexican Secretariat of Health and Assistance was established to merge the Department of Public Sanitation and the Secretariat of Public Assistance. In that same year, the
Mexican Social Security Institute and the Mexican Children's Hospital were founded, during the presidency of
Manuel Avila Camacho. After this, several and important changes came, aiming to provide better health for the population. In 1959, the
Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers (ISSSTE) was formed as a way of more effectively covering the health services of individuals employed in government institutions. The Seguro Popular, or Popular Health Insurance, was implemented countrywide in 2003 after the creation of the Social System during the presidency of
Vicente Fox Quesada. In the world's largest randomized health policy experiment, Seguro Popular was evaluated at arm's length by a team at Harvard University, which concluded that "programme resources reached the poor," an unusual result for any country. In 2020, it was replaced by the
Institute of Health for Welfare (INSABI), which was replaced in 2023 by the IMSS-Bienestar. Seguro Popular was closed in June 2020. In the late nineteenth century, Mexico was in the process of modernization, and public health issues were again tackled from a scientific point of view. As in the U.S., food safety became a public health issue, particularly focusing on meat slaughterhouses and meatpacking. Even during the
Mexican Revolution (1910–20), public health was an important concern, with a text on hygiene published in 1916. During the Mexican Revolution, feminist and trained nurse
Elena Arizmendi Mejia founded the
Neutral White Cross, treating wounded soldiers no matter for what faction they fought. In the post-revolutionary period after 1920, improved public health was a revolutionary goal of the Mexican government. The Mexican state promoted the health of the Mexican population, with most resources going to cities. Concern about disease conditions and social impediments to the improvement of Mexicans' health were important in the formation of the
Mexican Society for Eugenics. The movement flourished from the 1920s to the 1940s. Mexico was not alone in Latin America or the world in promoting
eugenics. Government campaigns against disease and alcoholism were also seen as promoting public health. The
Mexican Social Security Institute was established in 1943, during the administration of President
Manuel Avila Camacho to deal with public health, pensions, and social security. ==Private healthcare delivery==