PAHO and the Lancet on Sustainability and Equity in Health in Brazil - the weight of people and politics

Health in Brazil - towards sustainability and equity in health 

May 9, 2011

The Lancet with PAHO are presenting a series of papers on the Brazilian health care approach. Here's the announcement text for this series, which can be accessed on Lancet's Website http://bit.ly/iAayVm

"……..Brazil has made significant improvements in maternal and child health, emergency care, and in reducing the burden of infectious diseases. But the news is not all good. The country continues to have a burden of injury mortality that is different from other countries due to the large number of murders, especially using firearms. Obesity levels are increasing and caesarean section rates are the highest in the world.

Brazil now has the opportunity to move closer towards its ultimate goal of universal, equitable, and sustainable health care as enshrined in the 1988 Constitution. To highlight this opportunity, The Lancet is publishing a Series of six papers that critically examine what the country's policies have achieved and where future challenges lie. As Cesar Victora and colleagues conclude in the final paper of the Series: "the challenge is ultimately political, requiring continuous engagement by Brazilian society as a whole to secure the right to health for all Brazilian people." 

Perhaps a good topic for a journal review with SHOUT colleagues.

Eric