Cambios en las estrategias para la atención de la salud en Costa Rica

Abstract

This paper describes the changes that took place in the health field in Costa Rica from 1970 to 1984. They were all brought about by measures that culd not have been taken without the resolve of the successive government to preserve health, as a matter of policy, even in times of economic crisis. According to UNICEF, in 1985 Cost Rica was amongh the thirty countries with lowest infant mortality and longest life expectancy at birth even though it had a lower per capita income than any of them. In view of the excellent results obtained with preventive measures and education in the health field, and of the fact that the economic crisis made it impossible for the country to afford the hight cost of services for the treatment of disease, it was decided to try to set up a national health system, and diverse strategies were proposed for doing so: the establishment of a health sector, integration of services, intercoordination of measures, and community participation. The present guiding principles of health policy in Costa Rica are provision of health services to the entire population without any distinction whatever; integration of preventive with curative and rehabilitative services; promotion of health and prevention of disease as the paramount priorities and, finally, community participation as the keystone for the success of any health program