Investing in universal health in the Americas

Abstract

Investing in health is a whole-of-society commitment and a requirement for sustainable development. The links between health, development and economic growth have been well established with abundant evidence that demonstrates the benefits of increased health investment for sustainable human development, economic growth and population well-being. Evidence also reveals that better health outcomes and healthier populations contribute to higher productivity and therefore better economic results. The reality in the Region of the Americas remains challenging in this regard. Health systems are under-funded and characterized by segmentation and fragmentation in financing and service provision, with inefficiencies in the allocation and use of limited resources. These problems result in poorer health outcomes and contribute to persistent poverty and inequities, with the greatest impact on populations in conditions of vulnerability. The way forward then is two-fold: find new public sources of funding while simultaneously increasing efficiency in health systems financing and health services organization to better respond to population needs.