RESUMO
El objetivo de este estudio fue cuantificar los recursos de la medicina privada mediante un censo de unidades médicas con servicio de hospitalización, realizado en el primer trimestre de 1994 con base en la información jurisdiccional. Se registraron en todo el país 2 723 unidades médicas del sector privado con camas de hospitalización. En el Distrito Federal y los estados de México, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Baja California y Veracruz se concentra cerca de la mitad de las unidades. El total de camas censables registradas en el país de 33 937, de tal manera que la medicina privada es el principal proveedor de camas de hospitalización del Sistema Nacional de Salud; se encontraron resultados similares en cuanto al resto de recursos materiales humanos
A census of private health establishments was carried out by the Secretary of Health, in order to quantify its resources and to describe their geographical distribution. The census, conducted in 1994, was limited to private units which offered hospitalization services, and the reference period was the previous year. Results showed that there are 2 723 private hospitalization units in Mexico, and nearly a half of the units are concentrated in the Federal District, and the states of Mexico, Guanajuato, Michoacan, Baja California and Veracruz. The number of private hospitalization beds registered in the country are 33 937, these figures indicate that private medicine is the main hospital care provider in the national health system. Similar results were obtained regarding other material and human resources. It is important to stress the need for further research regarding the role of private medicine in Mexico, including aspects related to the quality of the services being provided.