Health, Policy and Politics in Latin America

This course examines current issues on health in Latin America, with a special focus on health policy. The course consists of two parts: the first part explores social determinants of health, health inequities, and counter-hegemonic views of health in the region. The second part analyzes health systems and health reforms in comparative perspective, including the cases of Brazil, Chile, Cuba, and Costa Rica. Based on these cases we assess advantages, shortcomings, and problems of implementation of health systems based on (1) social insurance, (2) national health service, or (3) market-driven factors.