Abstract

DIAZ-PORTILLO, Sandra P et al. Clinics adjacent to private pharmacies in Mexico: infrastructure and characteristics of the physicians and their remuneration. Salud pública Méx [online]. 2015, vol.57, n.4, pp.320-328. ISSN 0036-3634.

Objective. To analyze and compare the physicians' characteristics, their remuneration, the compliance with regulation and the services offered between clinics adjacent to pharmacies (CAF) and independent medical clinics (CMI). Materials and methods. Questionnaire applied to 239 physicians in 18 states including the Federal District, in Mexico in 2012. Results. Physicians in CAF had less professional experience (5 versus 12 years), less postgraduate studies (61.2 versus 81.8%) and lower average monthly salaries (USD 418 versus USD 672) than their peers in CMI. In CAF there was less compliance in relation to medical record keeping and prescribing. Conclusions. The employment situation of physicians in CAF is more precarious than in CMI. It is necessary to strengthen the enforcement of existing regulations and develop policies according to the monitoring of its performance, particularly, but not exclusively, in CAF.

Keywords : primary care; prescribing; physicians; conflict of interest; pharmacies; Mexico.