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Achieving Health Equity and Social Justice in the US-Mexico Border Region

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Social Justice in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region

Abstract

The US-Mexico border divides metropolitan areas that are closely intertwined. On average, about 30% of US border residents receive health and dental care in Mexico and a larger percentage purchase their medicines in the neighboring country. Many cross the border due to lack of US health-care coverage, but others have more trust and feel more comfortable dealing with Mexican than with US providers. In addition, due to the shortage of physicians on the US side of the border, adults with acute conditions cannot get a timely appointment in the United States and seek help in Mexico. This health-seeking behavior is not supported by the current border health system or by current US health policy. The health systems of both countries operate in silos; there is virtually no communication among providers in the different countries. This chapter will use empirical data to show how US borderlanders are using both systems of care, including the use of Mexican pharmacies; will discuss the advantages, risks, and disadvantages that closeness to Mexico represents for specific population groups (migrants, poor, and uninsured); and will discuss policy options to foster equity in access to health care in the border region.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Unless otherwise specified, the statistics cited are from the border counties, as defined by the US-Mexico Border Health Commission.

  2. 2.

    For instance, water scarcity, air pollution, water and land contamination, inadequate waste disposal, and degradation of natural resources.

  3. 3.

    Workers in the formal economy enroll in the social security system that corresponds to the worker’s line of employment. There are different social security systems in Mexico, the largest being IMSS (for the private sector), ISSSTE (for the state and federal employees), and PEMEX (for workers in the oil industry), and medical insurance for the worker and his/her family is among the many social services they provide. Each social security system has its own infrastructure and salaried employees. All social security services, including pharmaceuticals, are free of copayments and deductibles.

  4. 4.

    Some of the displaced Mexican health professionals reside on the US side of the border and are illegally offering services in their residences. Mexican pharmaceuticals are being illegally sold in US border cities by individuals and in selected convenience stores.

  5. 5.

    Officially known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

  6. 6.

    A coalition of Mexican and US business persons who have interest in the Paso del Norte Region (Western Texas, Ciudad Juarez, and Southern New Mexico).

  7. 7.

    Conversation with a Spanish physician in July 2007.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Management, Policy and Community Health, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Houston Health Sciences Center, El Paso Regional Campus, El Paso, TX, USA

    Nuria Homedes

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  1. Nuria Homedes
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Correspondence to Nuria Homedes .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Health Sciences, University of Texas, W. University Ave 500, El Paso, 79968, Texas, USA

    Mark Lusk

  2. , Department of Political Science, University of Texas, W. University Ave 500, El Paso, 79968, Texas, USA

    Kathleen Staudt

  3. Department of Social Work, University of Texas, W. University Ave. 500, El Paso, 79968, Texas, USA

    Eva Moya

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Homedes, N. (2012). Achieving Health Equity and Social Justice in the US-Mexico Border Region. In: Lusk, M., Staudt, K., Moya, E. (eds) Social Justice in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4150-8_7

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