Health Systems in Latin America: The Search for Universal Health Coverage

This paper discusses the health challenges faced by countries in Latin America. These challenges have two dimensions: those related to the health needs of populations and those related to the way in which health systems are responding to these needs. The main conclusion is that in order to improve health conditions and move towards universal health coverage, Latin American countries need to design a new generation of policy innovations based on the separation of the three main functions of health systems: financing, delivery and stewardship.