The United States has not yet decided to ensure that every citizen has access to health care services at reasonable cost. The United States spends more on health care than any other country by far. Yet the health status of the US population, when compared with that of like nations, remains poor. The US system does not operate efficiently, fares poorly in terms of health equity, and has an illness and injury care industry with many uncoordinated "systems" focused on treating individuals rather than on improving health status. There are lessons for us in Cuba's health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Subject
UNITED States; HEALTH services accessibility; CUBA; HEALTH promotion; MEDICAL policy; HEALTH disparities; INTEGRATED health care delivery; MEDICAL care costs; HEALTH care industry
LESSONS FROM CUBA'S NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM...Keck CW, Reed GA. 'The curious case of Cuba' Am J Public Health. 2012;102(8):e13—e22.
Creator
Levy Barry S; Keck C William; Reed Gail A
Publisher
American Journal of Public Health
Date
2012
2012-12
Subject
Cuba; Social Responsibility; Education; Health Services Accessibility; Primary Health Care; Medically Underserved Area; Outcomes (Health Care); Community Role; Multilingualism; Role Models; Medical – Cuba; National Health Programs – Cuba
COMMUNITY support; CUBA; EVALUATION of medical care; HEALTH services accessibility; MEDICALLY underserved areas; MULTILINGUALISM; PRIMARY health care; ROLE models; SOCIAL responsibility; MEDICINE – Study & teaching; NATIONAL health services – Cuba
As health professionals in the United States consider how to focus health care and coverage to ensure better, more equitable patient and population health outcomes, the experience of Cuba's National Health System over the last 5 decades may provide useful insights. Although mutual awareness has been limited by long-term political hostilities between the United States and Cuban governments, the history and details of the Cuban health system indicate that their health system merits attention as an example of a national integrated approach resulting in improved health status. More extensive analysis of the principles, practices, and outcomes in Cuba is warranted to inform health system transformation in the United States, despite differences in political-social systems and available resources.
Subject
Humans; United States; Health Status; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Cuba; Health Services Accessibility; Community Health Services/standards; Family Practice/education/standards; Health Planning Guidelines; Health Policy; National Health Programs/economics/*organization & administration/trends; State Medicine/organization & administration; Universal Health Insurance/economics/standards; Delivery of Health Care; Integrated/*organization & administration; HEALTH status indicators; MEDICAL education; QUALITY assurance; CUBA; HEALTH services accessibility; COMMUNITY health services; COST control; HEALTH risk assessment; NURSE & physician; ORGANIZATIONAL change; PREVENTIVE health services; PUBLIC sector; Preventive Health Care; Community Health Services; Nurse-Physician Relations; Public Sector; Cost Control; Organizational Change; Community Assessment – Utilization; Health Care Delivery – History – Cuba; Health Personnel – Education; Health Status Indicators – Utilization; MEDICAL care – Cuba; MEDICAL care – History; National Health Programs – Trends – Cuba; NATIONAL health services – Cuba; Quality Improvement – Methods
The United States and Cuba - Turning Enemies into Partners for Health.
Creator
Keck C William
Publisher
The New England journal of medicine
Date
2016
2016-10
Subject
*International Cooperation; *Pharmaceutical Preparations; *Schools; Clinical Assessment Tools; Cuba; Drug Approval; Drugs; Economics; Health Policy; International Relations; Marketing; Medical; Policy; Schools; United States