[Intercultural adaptations at hospitals for Indians in New Spain]

Exclusive hospitals for attention to sick natives were founded in New Spain. The most important of these were established by Franciscan missionaries at the Valley of Mexico and by the Agustinians in Western Mexico. In addition, foundation of the hospitals towns at Michoacan's bishop, designed by Don Vasco de Quiroga, were based on the utopic and humanistic ideas of Thomas More. In this article we offer a revision of their origins, their multiple forms of economic support, the administrative operation, hospital organization with the extraordinary participation of the Indian natives the trust deposited in these institutions by the users, the peak and consolidation in the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as decadence and cancellation in the 19th century. Additionally, we carried out the review of the organization and operation with the goal of assessing the degree of realistic achievement in these institutions to render them more accessible to the appropriate social and cultural characteristics of the indigenous patients. The lessons of the past helped us not to similar mistakes again. In this vein, the knowledge and experience of those who preceded us can help us resolve actual problems.