Cuba and the Philippines: contrasting cases in world-system analysis

Cuba and the Philippines are countries with broad similarities in historical background yet sharp divergences in political economic developments and relations to the capitalist world-system in recent times. U.S. economic and political interests dominated both countries during the first half of the 20th century. The changes generated by the Cuban revolution resulted in the end of U.S. power in Cuba in 1959. The Philippines, however, remain profoundly dependent on the United States. The approach taken in this article contrasts these countries, asking what the results of their divergent paths are in terms of health and health services. The ability of Cuba and the Philippines to support the primary health care (PHC) approach by fostering socioeconomic justice, authentic citizen participation, and a regionalized health system is examined. It is clear that the last 25 years of socialist-oriented development in Cuba reversed the negative effects of the previous market economy by providing improved social and health services. The success of the political economy and the fully regionalized health system, supportive of the PHC approach in Cuba, is reflected in the high-level health status of the people. In contrast, poverty, gross social and economic inequities, high prevalence of infectious disease, and inaccessible, inadequate, and uncoordinated health services persist in the Philippines after some 85 years of international and national capitalist development. The poor health status of the Philippine people is a direct reflection of this underdeveloped system.