A Guidebook Explains Mexican Healthcare

Kathryn Jones
The New York Times – Travel
Sunday, August 8, 2004

Sitting under a palapa on a Mexican beach sounds relaxing. But it is daunting to think about illness or injury when traveling in a country with a different language, not to mention the highly publicized crimes against Americans and other visitors to Mexico City in recent years. Given those concerns and some travelers’ chronic health problems, a new book offers guidance for those who need medical care in Mexico. Mexico: Health and Safety Travel Guide. (MedToGo, $19.95) was written by two doctors, Robert H. Page and one of his three sons, Curtis P. Page, who have a bilingual family practice in Tempe, Ariz. Another son, Robert R. Page, a part-time resident of Mexico, assisted. They spent three years screening doctors and checking hospitals all over the country; none paid to be included in the book.

The elder Dr. Page, who went to medical school in Guadalajara, said he realized the need for the book after witnessing the confusion when he tried to help some girls from California whose vehicle had flipped over in Puerto Vallarta some years ago. The book includes safety information for certain parts of the country, including Mexico City and some resort cities, as well as symptoms of various diseases and information on navigating Mexico’s health-care system.

A directory lists more than 50 top-ranked hospitals and almost 200 English-speaking doctors, certified by independent boards, in more than 40 Mexican towns and cities. The directory gives contact information, descriptions of the physicians’ training and experience, and photographs of the doctors and facilities. Information: www.medtogo.com