The fact that 2023 was the warmest year on record in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) should be reason enough to be concerned about the effects of a changing planet on people in our region. The Amazon recently suffered the worst drought in the last 50 years, and Central America had a record number of hurricanes and floods. As a result of its geography and because of … [Read more...] about Adaptive Social Protection: A Priority for the Region
Health services
How Do We in the Region Prepare for the Next Pandemic?
The COVID-19 crisis revealed structural weaknesses in the region's capacity to prevent and respond to emergencies. Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) was the most affected by the health emergency worldwide. With only 8.2% of the population, it accounted for 25.5% of the world's total COVID-19 deaths. Additionally, the economic contraction of 6.7% of GDP in 2020 made it … [Read more...] about How Do We in the Region Prepare for the Next Pandemic?
Is It Possible to Get to a Health Center in 30 Minutes? The Truth Behind Access to Health Care in Latin America and the Caribbean
Have you ever thought about how long it would take you to get to a health center if you had an emergency? It is estimated that one in three people in the region have unmet health needs. And while it is true that not all access depends on infrastructure, it is important to extend access to health services.Technology now makes it possible to combine layers of population datawith … [Read more...] about Is It Possible to Get to a Health Center in 30 Minutes? The Truth Behind Access to Health Care in Latin America and the Caribbean
The Healthcare Sector Plays a Crucial Role in Times of Crisis
In recent decades, the world has experienced a series of extreme events. From economic periods of recession to political instability causing social conflicts, terrorism and wars. From health crises such as pandemics or plagues to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, droughts and heat waves. Regarding the latter, the frequency of extreme natural … [Read more...] about The Healthcare Sector Plays a Crucial Role in Times of Crisis
Public Hospitals in the Region: What Is the Room for Improvement?
Hospitals are a key component of health systems and health spending in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Across the region, hospital care already accounts for about 1/3 of total health spending and is expected to increase in absolute and relative terms as populations age and medical technology improves. The public sector has a substantial role in providing and paying for … [Read more...] about Public Hospitals in the Region: What Is the Room for Improvement?