Purto Vallarta, Mexico.- Services will be available from any hospital, regardless of affiliation

The road to a unified and universal health care system in Mexico is just beginning its first phase, an exchange of services among the hospitals of the different health institutions, a change that is expected to offer improved medical care for the end user.

Beginning next month, any beneficiary will be able to receive medical attention at any Social Security Institute (IMSS), State Workers’ Social Security Institute (ISSSTE) or federal or state health secretariat hospital, regardless of the institution to which the patient is affiliated.

This first stage towards a planned universal health system will consist in the exchange of 700 medical services, those which have been identified as the most needed among the general population, said the head of the National Commission for Social Protection through Health (CNPSS).

Under the new scheme, said Dr. Gabriel O’Shea Cuevas, patients with particular medical needs not available in the state or federal health secretariats will have the opportunity to be transferred to other IMSS or ISSSTE hospitals, and vice versa.

O’Shea believes that the first stage will give medical institutions the opportunity to learn a great deal, mainly in the referral and counter-referral of patients, but also in billing.

The new exchange system is all about reducing costs, he continued, as expensive equipment is often underutilized in some hospitals. Sometimes patients are sent to another city or state when a facility in the same city, but that of another institution, has the necessary equipment.

A new cancer treatment center in Baja California Sur illustrates the benefit of sharing.

“The construction of a new oncology center will begin in La Paz in a few weeks. The number of patients using Seguro Popular would not justify such a facility, but when the patients from IMSS and ISSSTE are taken into consideration, a center like that can be justified,” said O’Shea Cuevas.

To determine what services are available and can be exchanged, CNPSS polled states about what they have and what they need.

“It’s a two-way street. This exchange of services is a great step towards the Universal Health System . . this is a good start for all those involved, for all of us who have dreamed of it,” he said.

“Health in this country should not be based on an individual’s employment status, but in every Mexican’s right to have access to medical services.”

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.- From her hospital bed in Mexico where she is fighting aggressive cancer, Hamiltonian and former CHCH TV weather reporter Nicola Jones struggles to get out one message she wants people to hear.

"I want to tell the entire community just how much I love them, how much I appreciate their kindness," she says through tears during a phone interview Thursday. "I plan to pay them back in every way I can."

Jones was flown by air ambulance Monday night to the Mexican integrated care hospital. She prefers not to name the hospital or give its location.

"It is the only hospital that is able to treat me in my late-stage condition," she says.

Doctors there started treating her Tuesday morning and have told her the only realistic option is to undergo high-risk surgery to remove her tumour, but they are trying to build up her strength first, she said.

Jones, 41, went there after Juravinski Cancer Centre doctors told her there was nothing more they could do to try to save her from a tumour that refuses to yield to aggressive chemotherapy and continues to grow, she said.

In Mexico, Jones feels she's in the right place for now.

"I've never seen this level of care in my life," she says.

Her mother, Cindy Jones of Dundas, is with her.

Jones also feels she is doing the right thing by trying everything possible to stay alive.

"I have a little boy I want to live for," she says, weeping.

Her son, 9, is being cared for by his dad and grandmother in Hamilton.

The ambulance cost of $30,000 to $50,000 was paid for by friends and family who have maxed out their credit cards, she says.

Jones, too, is maxing out her credit cards and selling her house to cover costs.

Her friends in Hamilton have organized a fundraiser Oct. 28 to help raise $80,000.

Asked about it, Jones says she finds the idea of a fundraiser difficult to accept.

"I didn't want them to do it. It's very hard for me to take money from other people because I am a very proud person. I have never wanted to be a charity."

But when her ex-husband Chris Beattie told her people were asking daily how they can help, she agreed to it.

"I was shocked by the response, more than the money (goal) because it is such a show of love. … They wanted to make sure I could afford to get down here."

Jones doesn't yet know her hospital costs but says a German hospital she was originally slated to go to cost 8,000 Euros (about $11,500) a week. The one in Mexico is half that cost.

Jones says she initially wanted to go to Germany because the hospital there offers Nobel Prize-winning treatments and has a 97 per cent success rate.

But it provides outpatient services only and so officials there advised her she'd be better off in Mexico, with 24-hour hospital care.

FUNDRAISER FOR NICOLA JONES
Tues. Oct. 28, 5 to 9 p.m.
Liuna Station, 360 James St. N. Tickets: $70.
See facebook.com/teamnicolajones or teamnicolajones.eventbrite.ca.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

905-526-3392 | @CarmatTheSpec

Carmela Fragomeni is a reporter with the Hamilton Spectator. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Twitter: @CarmatTheSpec.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.-Secondary and preparatory school students from Zapopan, Jalisco, have designed and built three highly-efficient solar-powered vehicles. But they’re not done yet: an airplane may be next.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.- Both village and beach at Cuastecomates have new facilities for people with disabilities

A coastal village in Jalisco is being hailed as the first in Mexico to be disabled-inclusive while its beach has the distinction of being the second.

Cuastecomates, located in Costalegre, aims to go even farther: authorities want to see the beach get the international Blue Flag destination for clean beaches and have the bay declared a protected area.

The Jalisco government has invested 47 million pesos, or US $2.5 million, in the first stage of a project to boost tourism as well as create a more inclusive beach destination. The money has also paid for the installation of a new wastewater treatment system, new street lighting and drainage and a medical center.

New signage including signs in Braille, a wooden boardwalk, handicapped access, wheelchairs for the beach, amphibious forearm crutches for adults and children, specially designed vessels for snorkeling and other amenities were part of the project.

Cuastecomates becomes Mexico’s second wheelchair-accessible beach, according to reports. The first was Playa del Carmen.

Jalisco Governor Aristóteles Sandoval officiated at an inauguration ceremony in Cuastecomates yesterday. He said the project contributes to encouraging a culture of respect for a sector of the population that “urgently requires attention.”

The beach is located in the municipality of Cihuatlán, near Barra de Navidad and Melaque.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.- The dangerous mani, which started gaining popularity last September after scorpion enthusiast Lupita Garcia advocated for a scorpion design at her friend Rocío Vidales' nail salon, includes applying small scorpions on the nail and painting over them with acrylic.

“It started out as a sick joke,” Vidales, owner of Miss Uñas in Durango, Mexico told Daily Mail.

However, the joke quickly blossomed into one of the riskiest and hottest nail trends in the country. Although the insects are dead once applied, the critters still carry a high amount of their venom. While the effects aren’t deadly, clients can still experience side effects of the poison including swelling and pain.

Using scorpions on a daily basis is nothing new for Mexican culture. They can often be found preserved in alcohol bottles, lurking in lollipops, and even fried and served as a dish. Guess it was only a matter of time before they found their way into beauty.

How do you feel about this wacky new trend? Watch the video below to learn more:

No travel experience in Mexico is complete without sampling the delicious local cuisine. With this in mind, true fans of fine dining should head straight to Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit, two neighbouring destinations along Mexico’s stunning Pacific Coast, for Restaurant Week, a delicious festival of gastronomic excellence scheduled from 15th–31st May. Discover why the region’s mouth-watering event continues to attract food lovers from around the world.

From traditional Mexican cuisine to internationally-inspired dishes, Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit boasts a wonderfully diverse, vibrant and innovative food scene all year round. To celebrate, Restaurant Week returns for its 12th edition this May, and hungry travellers across the globe are once again invited to partake in a wide variety of culinary offerings at the region’s best restaurants. Throughout the two-week festival, participating establishments will offer exclusive, three-course menus with three options per course and affordable fixed-pricing with discounts of up to 50%.

In Puerto Vallarta, participating restaurants include:

Si Señor (http://www.sisenorgarden.com/english/)
A family-run, authentic Mexican restaurant set in a tranquil garden in the heart of Puerto Vallarta’s trendy downtown area, showcasing the region’s complex flavours and aromas in a wide range creative culinary interpretations—from the mellow flavours of Oaxaca to the Mediterranean-inspired cuisine from Veracruz.

Coco Tropical Restaurant Grill and Beach Club (http://cocotropical.com)
Where gourmet cuisine with a Mediterranean flair, spectacular views of Banderas Bay and the warmth of Mexican hospitality come together for an elegant beachside dining experience unlike any other.

Bravos Restaurant Bar (http://www.bravospv.com)
Featuring flavourful international cuisine that’s always healthy, homemade and perfectly presented for fine dining set to a sophisticated and stylish ambiance in Puerto Vallarta’s south side.

In Riviera Nayarit, participating restaurants include:

Tuna Blanca (http://tunablanca.com/en/about-tuna-blanca)
Located in the picturesque Punta de Mita in a chic, oceanfront atmosphere, Tuna Blanca offers a medley of Mexican flavours, aromas, colours and textures using fresh ingredients and organic products—all hand planted by local farmers and prepared by the restaurant’s gourmet chefs, Thierry Blouet and Ramon Alvarez.

Mark’s Bar & Grill (http://www.marksbucerias.com/#_=_)
Featuring Asian and Mediterranean-inspired dishes characterised by freshness, simplicity and depth of flavour, Mark’s Bar & Grill in Bucerias is always top spot for excellent food and tropical vibes.

Nicksan (http://www.nicksanmexico.com/en/)
Perfecting a harmonious fusion of two cultures, Nicksan Nuevo Vallarta, located within Riviera Nayarit’s Marival Residences & World Spa complex, presents a unique and attractive menu of innovative dishes that combine Mexican and Japanese influences, such as the now world famous “Spicy Tuna”.

Ready to eat yet? Then mark your calendars for Restaurant Week and prepare to treat your taste buds to gastronomic excellence at some of Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit’s finest culinary establishments.

For more information, as well as a full Restaurant Week programme and menu, visit http://goo.gl/mXmjeL.

The Fashion Show, the photo shoots and the videos taken at the microdestinations were a complete success and they even had time to enjoy some of the Destination’s social activities.

Puerto Vallarta.- Appnovation, the global IT services firm that delivers innovative and creative open technology solutions, is pleased to announce their partnership with The Isa Mundo Foundation, part of their Corporate Citizenship program.

Fernando Stalla is recognised as one of the top 10 surfers and stand up paddlers in the world, has lived in Sayulita for many years AND works as a professional athlete and ambassador representing Punta Sayulita around the globe.

Over 1,000 home-based travel agents in the United States participated in the event; there were only 300 exhibitors, among them the Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta.

It is one of the most frequently asked questions: How much do I really need to live comfortably in Puerto Vallarta? And it is one of the most difficult questions to answer as what people consider to be “comfortable” widely varies.

The highway has all the benefits of an expressway without a toll; its four lanes shorten travel time and increase the safety factor for drivers; it was completed just in time for the start of Easter season in the Riviera Nayarit.