Assessment of the health program for the non-insured population

Objective Present the results of the evaluation of a program for the non-in sured population of the four poorest states of the country implemented by t he Ministry of Health of Mexico between 1991 and 1995. Methods The effects of the program were evaluated in three areas: i) increa se in health services coverage; ii) delivery of personal health services, a nd iii) changes in health conditions of the target population. The extensio n of coverage was meas-ured by the increase in potential access due to the construction of health infrastructure projects and the use of additional he alth mainpower, mainly primary health care workers. For the evaluation of t he impact of the program on the delivery of services, three surveys were de veloped: one for service utilization, another one for accessibility, and a third for quality of care. The impact on health conditions was evaluated by changes in health indicators of children under five and rt women of reprod uctive age. Results and Conclusions The Program had a positive impact on coverage acces sibility and quality of services. Its impact on health conditions,cas also positive. However; these last changes cannot be attributed only to the prog ram, but to the sum of several concurrent activities.