Mexico’s Hard Times Felt Even by Doctors

MEXICO CITY — At least 20,000 doctors are unemployed and 50,000 others work part-time because high medical costs have forced patients to use state facilities, closing many private practices, a medical association says.

Members of the Mexican Society of General Medicine complained Monday that the nation’s continuing economic pinch--aggravated by a sharp decrease in oil revenue and burgeoning debt-service costs--is forcing people to rely on the Social Security system and on the large medical facilities provided to public employees.