Universal Health in Cuba: Healthy Public Policy in All Sectors

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Policy
• Social Planning

Background:

• Health is a universal human right, necessitating government responsibility and integration into social policies.
• Cuba's Constitution upholds the right to health, supported by a universal, free public health system.
• Political commitment in Cuba fosters intersectorality to address population health challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the role of intersectoral collaboration in Cuba's public health system.
• To evaluate how intersectoral strategies impact health indicators and response capacity.
• To identify the need for enhanced intersectoral coordination in primary health care.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of national regulations promoting intersectoral participation in health programs.
• Review of Cuba's public health system structure and political commitment to intersectorality.
• Assessment of health indicators and response capacity in the context of socioeconomic challenges.

Main Results:

• Intersectorality, embedded in national regulations, enhances participation across all social sectors.
• Cuba's strategy has improved the health system's response capacity and key health indicators.
• The approach has effectively addressed national and international socioeconomic challenges.

Conclusions:

• Intersectoral collaboration is a key strategy for Cuba's public health system.
• Sustaining health achievements requires improved intersectoral coordination within primary health care.
• Addressing new sociocultural, economic, and environmental challenges necessitates strengthened intersectoral approaches.