Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been expanding worldwide and Mexico is not the exception. The present paper shows evidence of the development of CAM in one mid-size city (Cuernavaca) in central Mexico. First, the study identified that CAM can not be portrayed in the same way as in industrialised countries due to the strong presence of traditional indigenous medicine in urban areas. The study focused on the relation between the supply and demand of CAM services. On the supply side, a wide variety of specializations were identified. The most common were homeopathy, traditional medicine and acupuncture. The educational background of practitioners ranged from no formal instruction at all, to professional education in the fields of biology, anthropology, and medicine. Practitioners tend to perform more than one speciality at the same time. Practitioners are aware of the need of adversiting their practice and use different means to do this. On the demand side, the most relevant phenomena is the stratification of demand which is clearly defined by the prices of services. Prices vary from 5 to 15 USD per consultation. However, CAM services are available at all socio-economic levels. Users of CAM services argue that the holistic approach of CAM practitioners to ill-health issues is the strongest factor for consulting them, followed by the dissappointment with medical services in public institutions. CAM services are growing not only in volume but in complexity. The paper presents issues regarding the definition of specific health policies aiming at the appropriate regulation of CAM.
Learning Objectives: No learning objectives
Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Policy/Policy Development
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.