Julio Frenk
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Dr. Julio José Frenk Mora (December 1953, Mexico City) is a Mexican physician and the head of the Ministry of Health of the Mexican government.
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[edit] Biography
Dr. Frenk obtained his medical degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM in 1979. Posteriorly he obtained a master of Public Health and a master of arts in Sociology from the University of Michigan where he also obtained his PhD degree in Medical Care Organization and in Sociology.
In 1998 he was designated Director of Evidence and Information for Policy at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, and member of the transition team of President Vicente Fox in the areas of health.
He is the author of 28 books and monographs and many articles in academic journals as well as in cultural magazines and newspapers. He is also the member of the Editorial Boards ten international journals and a member of twelve scientific and professional associations, including the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico and the United States Institute of Medicine.
In September 2006 the Mexican government put his name forward as a candidate for the vacant position of Director General of the World Health Organization. http://www.juliofrenk2006who.org
[edit] The "morning after" pill
On July 2005 Frenk met the opposition of Interior Secretary Carlos Abascal (a conservative Catholic) because of the decision of the Ministry of Health of distributing the morning after pill to government health clinics.
Shortly after Norberto Rivera Carrera (archbishop of Mexico City) declared that the introduction of the pill should not be made without public debate, Abascal announced debates on the decision would be made. However, Frenk has denied the existence of any plans in discussing the topic or withdrawing the distribution of the pills. Women's rights groups have applauded the decision while anti-abortion activists and the Catholic Church have strongly decried the pill that is traditionally abortive (see the following page to understand how the birth control pill tends to remove the chance of the embryo (the fertilized egg) from attaching to the uterus after conception: link).
[edit] Awards
- Cecilio A. Robelo Award for Scientific Research, State of Morelos, 1993.
- Fellow, Michigan Society of Fellows, The University of Michigan, (1982-1984).
- National researcher, Mexican Research System, Mexico City, (1984-1998).
- International Fellow in Health, The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, (1986-1989).
[edit] External links
- (Spanish)Profile on the site of the Presidency of Mexico.
- (Spanish)Ministry of Health.
- Profile at the OECD website.
- Frenk supports pill, denies rift with Abascal Article on El Universal.
