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?
smart spending for health
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?
Master Plans for Investment in Health: A Tool to Improve Impact and Sustainability
It is estimated that to ensure the proper functioning of the infrastructure and necessary equipment, the public health network of Latin America and the Caribbean presents an investment deficit exceeding US $150 billion. In addition to this estimate, there is a growing demand for health services as a result of the increase in the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases, … [Read more...] about Master Plans for Investment in Health: A Tool to Improve Impact and Sustainability
Is it possible to achieve more health per dollar spent? Potential gains by improving health spending efficiency
Getting more for our current spending is a smart way to improve health system performance. That rings especially true in the current context: budgets are tight and health expenditures are projected to increase by 3% annually in real terms. Increasing the returns to health spending is good for health outcomes and it can support the argument for increasing the relatively low … [Read more...] about Is it possible to achieve more health per dollar spent? Potential gains by improving health spending efficiency