Long waiting times for public health care services are common in Latin America, as confirmed by the available data. For instance, in 2022 the median waiting time for hip replacements – a common elective surgery – was 408 days in Chile and 632 in Costa Rica. And even for coronary bypass surgery, more than three in four patients have been on a waiting list for more than three … [Read more...] about Why Long Wait Times for Health Care Should Matter – and How to Reduce Them
Health services
Unpaid Health Care Work: A Challenge for the Region
In the last decade, the debate on caregiving work—its gender inequality and impact on development—has gained increasing relevance on the public policy agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean. The origin of this debate dates back to concerns about the sexual division of labor, which places an unequal share of unpaid caregiving work on women. According to ECLAC, this division … [Read more...] about Unpaid Health Care Work: A Challenge for the Region
With the Support of RMEI, Mesoamerican Women Fight Malaria in Their Communities
Every April 25, the United Nations celebrates World Malaria Day. Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that claims 600,000 lives each year, mainly children. It is important to emphasize the fundamental role of courageous and committed women who, despite the difficulties, help their families and neighbors to fight the disease. Day by day, they are the heroines of their … [Read more...] about With the Support of RMEI, Mesoamerican Women Fight Malaria in Their Communities
The Collaboration of Health and IT Personnel to Solve Complex Problems
The digital transformation of health requires close collaboration between health and IT staff. For this, it is not necessary that doctors, in addition to knowing how the human body works, know how to cure viruses from their computers. It is enough for a small group of people to develop a language and a common understanding of a series of topics related to health and the … [Read more...] about The Collaboration of Health and IT Personnel to Solve Complex Problems
How Does Internet Use Impact the Socioemotional Well-being of Youth?
The data are alarming: a series of studies show that, over the last two decades, the mental health of young people has worsened, becoming a global issue. Today, one in seven adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) experience some mental disorder –we are talking about almost 16 million adolescents aged 10 to 19 in the region. Suicide is the third leading cause of … [Read more...] about How Does Internet Use Impact the Socioemotional Well-being of Youth?