Have You Been To Gringo MD?

Gringo MD is a useful service I just came across. GringoMD.com is your community-created resource for healthcare support in Mexico. The recommendations are for gringos, by gringos.

I learned quickly from the Medical in Mexico website that doctors and dentists in Mexico do not enjoy the same income levels that doctors and dentists do in the USA do. Therefore health care is more reasonable for Mexican residents and for foreigners who use medical services in Mexico. To supplement their income, it is not unusual for a doctor to own a pharmacy (Farmacia) as well as practicing medicine. The quality of doctors and dentists in Mexico, as well as most anywhere else, varies considerably. so it is best to consult other expats for their recommendations.

Farmacias in Mexico are everywhere. A downtown area will have one every couple of blocks or so. In some cases, if you don't have a prescription the doctor can write one for you, for a small fee. The pharmacist can often be helpful if you just explain what your situation is.

Now this seems like great advice for travelers to Mexico with pre-existing conditions:

•  Before you go, write up a brief description and history of your condition. Begin with your name, birthdate, your doctor and his contact information, and who to notify in case of emergency. Include a list of medications and dosages that you are taking. Include a list of anything that you are allergic to. Unless your Spanish is very good, I would just write this in English. Get this onto one sheet of paper or less and carry it with you. Give your travelling companions copies. That way, if you do have an emergency, someone can just hand this to the doctor and you don't have to worry so much about communicating all this information during the emergency.
• Also before you go, find out where you might find treatment and how to make contact.
• Find out how to say your condition in Spanish

Here's a good site: Public Health Care System in Mexico (IMSS)

Now go and have fun!