ICT in the public sector of the Health System of Mexico: Advances and opportunities

Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are an opportunity for innovation and improvement for health systems. The different applications of ICT in the health field have been associated with the term electronic health (e-Health) or digital health and have shown to be cost-effective and promote health systems performance. Taking as a guide the conceptual framework of the basic functions of health systems (stewardship/governance, financing, resource generation, and service provision), an analysis of progress and opportunities of e-Health in the national system of Mexico was carried out. This analysis was based on a literature narrative review and semi-structured interviews, principally. The study identifies important advances in e-Health in Mexico; however, there are still many issues to be faced, such as policy strengthening as well as access and implementation improvement.