Resumen

MARTINEZ TRUJILLO, Nelcy. Nursing in the universal health coverage: new terms and old actions. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2015, vol.41, suppl.1. ISSN 0864-3466.

Universal health coverage means having equitable access to sufficient comprehensive and quality health services. It also presupposes that this process is accompanied by minimum economic effects for the cared persons. The objective of this article was to analyze the main areas in which nursing develops work projects that contribute to the universal health coverage. The reports of the International Council of Nursing in the last 12 years as well as the most recent statements of this organization about this topic were all reviewed. The nursing staff is part of the human resources that should materialize their contribution to the universal health coverage scope; however, it is vital to understand that this contribution does not mean just establishing new actions when several ones have been already defined and may support reaching the expected results. Likewise, some areas in which no actions have been set were described. It was concluded that although the term "universal health coverage" has not been explicitly included in the agenda of the leading international bodies of nursing, the work projections that they have designed do cover actions that encourage the scope of universal coverage. Financing contribution is still a challenge for the nursing profession since it has not been part of the analyzed agendas in the last decade.

Palabras clave : nursing; universal health coverage.