Mexico has a population of over 100 million, largely mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) or Amerindian. There are about 90,000 hospital beds within the health system.

There is a government programme for expanding basic public health services to improve health care, particularly for the people in remote villages in rural areas. Basic health care projects have been ongoing.

Approximately half the population are covered by the Mexican social security plan (IMSS) for private sector workers and their families. Direct health care services are provided to the uninsured/poor by the Ministry of Health.