Resumen

La reforma sanitaria en América Latina y el Caribe. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 1997, vol.23, n.1-2, pp.17-31. ISSN 0864-3466.

The facts justifying the health reform processes in Latin America and the Caribbean, their theoretical sources, the way they are developed, and the problems they face are considered in this paper. The esencial characteristics of the health reforms in Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Venezuela are described. A final reflection is made regarding the contradictory situation, where, on one hand, the health reforms are aimed at rendering health services to large masses of the population lacking these services due to the existing iniquities, and, on the other hand, the policies on which these reforms are sustained have been a continuation of the adjustment policies that exacerbate the social injusticies in Latin America.

Palabras clave : SANITARY PROFILES; HEALTH SERVICES; HEALTH SYSTEM; CARIBBEAN REGION; LATIN AMERICA.