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
BID
Chronic Pain: Another Gender Gap Affecting Women
In health, as in education, labor markets and other sectors of society, there are significant gender gaps. According to the most recent World Economic Forum report, women spend about 25% more of their lives with health problems and are more likely to face barriers to accessing health care services. This gender gap in health equates to 75 million years of life lost each year due … [Read more...] about Chronic Pain: Another Gender Gap Affecting Women
The Hidden Trade-off of High-Cost Drugs
The speed at which new healthcare technologies are emerging is unprecedented. Some bring significant health improvements for previously intractable conditions, while others offer modest clinical benefits. These innovations put pressure on budgets everywhere, and although this is politically difficult to accept, it is a fact that no country, no matter how wealthy, can fund all … [Read more...] about The Hidden Trade-off of High-Cost Drugs
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?
Why Long Wait Times for Health Care Should Matter – and How to Reduce Them
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