The Medical Insurance for a New Generation: a viable answer for the health needs of Mexican children.

OBJECTIVE To describe the Medical Insurance for a New Generation (SMNG) as key public policy aimed at improving health care services for children under the age of five years in Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS This paper analyzes interrelated aspects of public policies to provide health care to Mexican children: a) the demographic and health status of children, with emphasis on the wide disparities between children of varying demographics; b) the relationship of the main functions of a health care system: financing, equity, access and quality, with the provision of health care for children; c) the architecture of the Medical Insurance for a New Generation. CONCLUSION SMNG is a program that can be instrumental in lowering infant mortality and alleviating the burden of families to care for sick children by improving access, quality of care and equity.