The Pan-American Highway, which we all know, connects the entire American continent, stretching from Alaska to the southernmost tip of Argentina. However, this highway is not seamless: there is a 130-kilometer gap between Panama and Colombia where the route abruptly ends. In healthcare, interruptions like this are a daily occurrence. These interruptions manifest in various … [Read more...] about Towards Connected Health Across Borders: The Pan-American Highway for Digital Health
Salud
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?
Caring for the Mental Health of Caregivers
The mental health of caregivers of older people in Latin America and the Caribbean appears to be at risk. A recent IDB survey of more than 27,000 caregivers across the region found a worrisome situation: more than 30% of unpaid caregivers and 19% of paid caregivers reported experiencing symptoms of depression. In this note we will explore some of the effects that caregiving … [Read more...] about Caring for the Mental Health of Caregivers
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
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