Are there American-trained doctors in Yucatan: Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Merida, etc?
Alfonso Galindo - I Go Yucatan
The educational system in Mexico is a little bit different – there’s junior high, high school, undergraduate school, then graduate school when you decide what you want to be when you grow up; doctor, lawyer, etc. Here in Mexico, there’s junior high and high school. Once you finish high school, you immediately choose your career, so there’s not that 4 years undergraduate education. You immediately go to your graduate school and decide to be an...The educational system in Mexico is a little bit different – there’s junior high, high school, undergraduate school, then graduate school when you decide what you want to be when you grow up; doctor, lawyer, etc. Here in Mexico, there’s junior high and high school. Once you finish high school, you immediately choose your career, so there’s not that 4 years undergraduate education. You immediately go to your graduate school and decide to be an accountant, an attorney, a doctor, etc. That’s why in Mexico you can be in a hospital bed and see a heart surgeons, brain surgeons, etc., who is 26 years old. However, this doctor would have at least a 5-year leg up on students of the US. That being said, physicians finish their career here in Mexico and most go to specialize and do residencies in the US, Canada or Europe. So a lot of them, especially the younger ones, speak English to some degree, if they are not completely fluent.
Not only are they fluent in English, but most certainly they’re trained well. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of treatments being done here in Mexico that are not being done yet in America, for example, in the areas of diabetes, cancer, and several others. Many North Americans come to Mexico for that treatment because it’s supposedly not yet available or approved from the FDA from the US, but yet it’s available in Latin America, Europe, or Cuba. Is the healthcare here in Mexico more advanced? I would say “yes,” we’re advanced in many, many aspects.
(Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad de Mérida, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted September 16, 2015
Wade Yarchan - Yucatan Beach Homes
Yes, there are lots of American-trained doctors in Yucatan. Medical in Yucatan is incredible. That is one of the reasons why I came here.I have a blood condition for which I needed specialized treatment. We looked all over the world and finally we looked at Mexico. We have private hospitals here. The IMSS (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social), which is the Mexican medical system, is very good and it is very reasonable. If you come here as an expat to pay out of pocket,...
Yes, there are lots of American-trained doctors in Yucatan. Medical in Yucatan is incredible. That is one of the reasons why I came here.I have a blood condition for which I needed specialized treatment. We looked all over the world and finally we looked at Mexico. We have private hospitals here. The IMSS (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social), which is the Mexican medical system, is very good and it is very reasonable. If you come here as an expat to pay out of pocket, it’s an absolute joke. Treatments in the US that cost $17,000 a week only costs a couple hundred dollars a week here in Mexico. The medical here in unbelievable. Oncologists in the US would be $600 per visit, yet here in Merida, you can go to one of the best oncologists and pay only $35.
(Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social logo, pictured.)
Posted October 27, 2015
Doug Willey - Doug Willey, Independent Real Estate Consultant
Yes, there are American-trained doctors and European-trained doctors here in the Yucatan Peninsula. If you rated medical the care here in Merida (the capital city in the state of Yucatan), where all the nice and big hospitals are, I would give them a 9 out of 10 easily. The medical care seems to be on par with the doctors in the major cities in the US. Actually, I like the care here in Merida better than in the US because the medical staff pays more...
Yes, there are American-trained doctors and European-trained doctors here in the Yucatan Peninsula. If you rated medical the care here in Merida (the capital city in the state of Yucatan), where all the nice and big hospitals are, I would give them a 9 out of 10 easily. The medical care seems to be on par with the doctors in the major cities in the US. Actually, I like the care here in Merida better than in the US because the medical staff pays more attention to you than in the US. When my wife had four surgeries done here in Mexico, the doctor stopped to check on her about four times a day. The doctors here would check to see how you’re doing and ask you if you need anything. In the US, I was lucky if I saw the doctor once. Here in Merida, the doctors try very hard to make you feel comfortable while you are having your procedures done.
However, I couldn’t say the same thing for the doctors and hospitals in the state of Quintana Roo (where the more well known tourist and expat areas are, on the Riviera Maya, including Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and Tulum). One of the reasons why moved out of Quintana Roo and back to the state of Yucatan was because when I had my accident, the doctors in Quintana Roo kept saying that there is a very good chance that if I didn’t bleed to death that I was going to lose my leg. Then they took me to the hospital in Cancun but there was no one there who could help me. With the amount of tourists and the amount of people in the Cancun area, in my opinion, there is no excuse for them not to have an arterial surgeon on standby 24 hours a day for an accident like I had. Basically, I consider myself very lucky to have been able to make that ambulance ride for them to get me to Merida so that I didn’t bleed to death.
To add to that story, which was kind of funny, after I had that surgery, and I came back for one of my visits, the doctor sat down with me and said “You’re a smoker aren’t you?” Here’s the rest of the conversation:
“Yeah.”
“How many cigarettes do you smoke in a day?”
“Well, that varies depending on what kind of day I’m having but I smoke an average of a pack a day.”
“How long have you been smoking?”
“Probably 40 years.”
“Well, you know, you should quit.”
“Yeah, I’ve been told that many, many times.”
“Just so you know, smoking saved your life... because your arteries were a little clogged. Had they not been clogged, there was no way you would have made that ambulance ride from Cancun to Merida. You would have bled to death first. I’m not saying you should keep on smoking. I still think you ought to quit but just for your information, it did save your life!”
(Old package of Patriotas cigarettes made in Mexico, pictured.)
Posted December 18, 2015
Kristin Wilson - Orbis Relocation
There are American-trained or American-quality doctors in the Yucatan and medical care is very affordable. I pay out of pocket for almost everything at private hospitals or medical centers, but if you have an emergency or get sick, you can usually get this care reimbursed from your international travel/health insurance provider. If you are a resident in Mexico you can get a local insurance policy. Here is info on doctors/hospitals in Playa del Carmen that I...
There are American-trained or American-quality doctors in the Yucatan and medical care is very affordable. I pay out of pocket for almost everything at private hospitals or medical centers, but if you have an emergency or get sick, you can usually get this care reimbursed from your international travel/health insurance provider. If you are a resident in Mexico you can get a local insurance policy. Here is info on doctors/hospitals in Playa del Carmen that I send to my clients who are looking for medical care:
Doctors: (English-Speaking)
- Playa Doctor
- Emergency calls 24 hours to: 044.984.745.0294 | +52.984.745.0294
- Dr. Paulo: 984-807-8401
Hospitals:
- Hospiten located in Playacar Fase II en Playa del Carmen
- Costa Med 01.800.COSTAMED
(Dr. Paulo Gutierrez, an English speaking doctor in Playa del Carmen, Yucatan, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted December 29, 2015
Mitch Keenan - Mexico International Real Estate
Yes, there are American-trained doctors in Yucatan. Almost all medical students here study from English textbooks because most of the best textbooks are written in English. A lot of the teachers here are also English-speaking. They may not be American, British, or Canadian, but because the medical students studied in English and because so much of medicine is taught in English, they are familiar with it.Additionally, some doctors also travel to either the UK, US, Canada, or to...
Yes, there are American-trained doctors in Yucatan. Almost all medical students here study from English textbooks because most of the best textbooks are written in English. A lot of the teachers here are also English-speaking. They may not be American, British, or Canadian, but because the medical students studied in English and because so much of medicine is taught in English, they are familiar with it.Additionally, some doctors also travel to either the UK, US, Canada, or to other countries to study medicine. This is not uncommon at all. I have a Yucatecan friend who studied dentistry here and then had his dental practice in Houston for a number of years, where he got his degree and license to practice dentistry there. Later on, he preferred to raise his family here in the Yucatan just because in his opinion and in mine as well, Mexico is a safer and more decent place to raise children. You don’t have to worry about being harmed, kidnapped, or shot by accident by somebody with a gun here. So my friend came back and he is my dentist now here in the Yucatan. There are numerous doctors and dentists here who are very qualified and have worked and studied abroad; not necessarily only in the US but also across the globe.
(Hospital Regional ISSSTE, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico pictured.)
Posted January 19, 2016
Mikki James
The doctors in the Yucatan Peninsula are really good. I have very good friends who are practicing doctors down here and everybody just loves life down here.I live in the state of Yucatan, in the small fishing village of Progresso. Merida, a city of over one million people, is the closest city, about 45 minutes away by car. If you to Merida to do a procedure you will get excellent care and pay about a quarter to a third of what you would pay in the States, with care...
The doctors in the Yucatan Peninsula are really good. I have very good friends who are practicing doctors down here and everybody just loves life down here.I live in the state of Yucatan, in the small fishing village of Progresso. Merida, a city of over one million people, is the closest city, about 45 minutes away by car. If you to Merida to do a procedure you will get excellent care and pay about a quarter to a third of what you would pay in the States, with care equal to or above what you would receive in the US. The doctors here are very “hands on.” They don’t delegate the services that they should be doing to other personnel like nurses or apprentices or technicians.
(Mikki James after being treated for a leg injury in Mexico, pictured.)
Posted January 22, 2016
Ivan Castillo - Secure Title Riviera Maya
There are major hospitals in the Yucatan Peninsula. For example, in Merida (the major city in the state of Yucatan in the Yucatan Peninsula), I understand that there are two or three major important hospitals that attend Mexican and foreign nationals. In the state of Quintana Roo in the Yucatan Peninsula (location of Riviera Maya, which contains Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, etc.) there are multiple hospitals as well. I won’t see any reason why foreign...
There are major hospitals in the Yucatan Peninsula. For example, in Merida (the major city in the state of Yucatan in the Yucatan Peninsula), I understand that there are two or three major important hospitals that attend Mexican and foreign nationals. In the state of Quintana Roo in the Yucatan Peninsula (location of Riviera Maya, which contains Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, etc.) there are multiple hospitals as well. I won’t see any reason why foreign buyers would need to worry that they won’t have access to a high quality medical institution. These medical facilities are also cheaper than the ones in the US. I can assure you that there are many capable medical doctors in these facilities.
In Mexico there are multiple universities that teach medicine that are recognized worldwide. Just like in the US, you can find good and bad doctors, but I can tell you that from what I’ve seen you can find very well trained doctors in the area.
(Hospital General de Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted January 26, 2016
Gustavo Cisneros - Petén
Merida (the largest city in the state of Yucatan) and even the whole Yucatan Peninsula is well known because as having a long tradition of having great hospitals. The culture of the schools here are very good in medicine and health. It is also important to know that there are two strong areas in the Yucatan Peninsula in relation to health care, which are Merida and Cancun. (Cancun is located in the state of Quintana Roo in the Yucatan Peninsula.) Both Merida and Cancun have First...Merida (the largest city in the state of Yucatan) and even the whole Yucatan Peninsula is well known because as having a long tradition of having great hospitals. The culture of the schools here are very good in medicine and health. It is also important to know that there are two strong areas in the Yucatan Peninsula in relation to health care, which are Merida and Cancun. (Cancun is located in the state of Quintana Roo in the Yucatan Peninsula.) Both Merida and Cancun have First World hospital facilities. It is so expensive to go to the dentist other places that some people even pay airfare to come to Merida and have dental work done. There are only around five cities in the country of Mexico that have state of the art medical facilities and Merida is the capital of the health industry.President Bush of the US came to the state of Yucatan for a meeting. When these kinds of visits happen, they certify one of the hospitals in the area, which they will use if something bad happens. There is one hospital in Merida that has this certification that says that in case something happens, President Bush can go to that hospital. I think if that hospital could work for the president of the US, then it could work for everyone, right?
(Star Médica Mérida, the hospital choice of President George Bush when he was in Yucatan, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted February 18, 2016
Jesus Celis - RH Fiscalis
Yes, there are American-trained doctors in the Yucatan Peninsula.The healthcare system in Merida (the largest city in the state of Yucatan) is very good. We have several hospitals with very good levels of service. We have many doctors who are experts in their specialties.
I feel very comfortable with the health service here in Merida. If you visit the chat rooms for groups in Mexico or in Merida where the people talks about the healthcare here, the people...
Yes, there are American-trained doctors in the Yucatan Peninsula.The healthcare system in Merida (the largest city in the state of Yucatan) is very good. We have several hospitals with very good levels of service. We have many doctors who are experts in their specialties.
I feel very comfortable with the health service here in Merida. If you visit the chat rooms for groups in Mexico or in Merida where the people talks about the healthcare here, the people report being very happy. The healthcare is not complicated to receive, and there’s good service here.
The physicians here are very well trained. Many of them are specialized, as opposed to being general practitioners. Many of them prefer to specialize in some area in order to respond or to provide better services to their patients.
Some of the physicians practicing here in the Yucatan were trained here locally, some were trained in Mexico City, and many of them are training in the States.
I have a friend who is a neonatologist who trains and receives instruction from the symposiums in Europe. He is very recommended and provides services to the huge multi-national corporation Nestle. Other physicians here, such as gynecologists, oncologists, etc., receive their training in the States.
(Clinica de Merida hospital, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted March 25, 2016
Alberto Alvelais - Alvelais & Asociados
Absolutely, yes, there are American-trained doctors in the Yucatan Peninsula, to the point where we are successfully building and growing the area into a medical tourism destination, even in partnership with local hotels.We have not only American trained doctors, but also other internationally trained doctors, including those from Spain, France, England and Italy.
I’ve never been to the US on a medical situation. I know it’s very expensive and it’s...
Absolutely, yes, there are American-trained doctors in the Yucatan Peninsula, to the point where we are successfully building and growing the area into a medical tourism destination, even in partnership with local hotels.We have not only American trained doctors, but also other internationally trained doctors, including those from Spain, France, England and Italy.
I’ve never been to the US on a medical situation. I know it’s very expensive and it’s good quality but as well as I know there are clinics that are not so good. Similar to other countries, some Mexican hospitals are cheap and some are very good and, from a Mexican perspective, very expensive. There is extremely good medical care in Mexico City and the other very big cities in Mexico. The Australian system is very good. In the Yucatan Peninsula, there are certain hospitals that are as good as the ones in Australia.
(Statue of Dr. Augustin Jorge O'Horán Escudero for which Hospital General Augustin O'Horan, the oldest hospital in Merida, Mexico was named, pictured.)
Posted May 4, 2016