Primedic: unlimited primary care for low income families in Mexico.

In Mexico, a lack of an efficient system of primary care leads to drastic consequences for the health of low-income families. When people do not have regular access to a physician, they tend to wait until the problem becomes an emergency or a chronic disease, leading to results that may be catastrophic. For instance, 80% of kidney transplants performed in Mexico could have been avoided had the patient sought proper care earlier. Moreover, the number one cause of death in Mexican women is cervical cancer, even though it can be easily detected and cured in its early stages. Additionally, waiting until health problems reach serious levels has significant financial effects for Mexicans. Primedic seeks to counter the culture of reactive medicine in Mexico and promote affordable primary care, thereby improving health outcomes.
A Primedic membership costs a fee of MX$1,199 (USD $92) per person per year. In return, subscribers receive free, unlimited consultations at Primedic’s clinics. Also, routine diagnostic procedures (mammograms, x-rays, etc.) are available at dramatically reduced prices. Morevoer, patients can see other medical specialists through Primedic’s referral network, where they pay half the price of a regular co-payment. Even though public health care exists in Mexico, it often includes very long waits (for instance, 2 weeks for a CT scan) and frequently lacks medicines. Primedic offers the quality of private clinics at a cost that is affordable to low-income Mexican familites.