The first two years of social insurance in Mexico.

MEXICO'S COMPREHENSIVE Social I n surance Act was signed by President Avila Camacho on December 31, 1942, and promulgated on January 19, 1943. Contributions became effective i n the Federal. District on January 1, 1944; i n March 1945 the law was extended to the municipal ity of Puebla, State of Puebla, and i n August 1945 to the municipal ity of Monterrey, State of Nueva Leon. This year has seen a further extension to the municipal ity of Guadalajara, State of Jalisco, u n der decree of March 1, 1946, and a r rangements are now being made for the inclusion of other industrial communities. I n its f irst 2 years of operation the program has made remarkable progress. Contributions are being collected currently f rom 31,000 employers and 288,000 employees i n the 3 areas of operation (table 1) . Approximately 750,000 persons, dependents included, are insured for health benefits. The Mexican Social Insurance Inst i tute owns and operates the great major i ty of its medical facilities. I n the Federal Distr ict i t has 14 clinics, 5 sanatoria, 107 factory medical posts, 5 analysis laboratories, 5 pharmacies, and other facilities, including special laboratories. I n addition, a matern i ty hospital of 260 beds is nearing completion, and plans have been prepared for several additional hospitals. A few private units s t i l l provide health insurance benefits through contract w i t h the Inst i tute , but these services i n December 1945 represented only 3 percent of al l services provided. By the end of 1945, approximately 8.6 mi l l ion medical and pharmaceuti cal services had been furnished. The Inst i tute employed 808 doctors, 215 pharmacists and laboratory techni -