Resumen

HERNANDEZ GOMEZ, Lidia. Neoliberalismo y salud, qué pasó en América Latina, la experiencia cubana. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2002, vol.28, n.3. ISSN 0864-3466.

Almost all the health systems of the continent have experienced significant reforms as a result of neoliberal globalization, putting into practice processes that have increased inequity in Latin America. Starting from this general picture, the Colombian health model is analyzed. In Cuba, there was a deep economic crisis during the same period of time, but it did not cause a social collapse thanks to the fact that the Cuban State assumed most of the negative impact resulting from that situation on implemeting a compensatory social policy and improving, in the field of health, the management directed to the optimization of the scarce available resources, searching always alternatives that allow to preserve social justice and to promote human development. Emphasis is made on the need to contextualize the health reforms of the continent in a wider social framework with higher public expenses in health and an efficient and equitable use of resources, so that the human right to equity, universality, well-being, and human solidarity in the sphere of health be not only an aspiration or an intention

Palabras clave : HEALTH SECTOR REFORM; HUMAN DEVELOPMENT; PUBLIC POLICY; PUBLIC HEALTH; ECONOMICS; LATIN AMERICA; EQUITY.