Good And Equitable Health Systems Paramount For Improving The Health Of A Nation... - 9 May 2011

Good And Equitable Health Systems Paramount For Improving The Health Of A Nation: The Brazil Example

BRASILIA - Brazil is showing the world how best to improve a nation’s health. This is the impression given by findings published in a special series of articles in The Lancet medical journal documenting progress made in combating infectious disease, chronic disease, HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, and violence and trauma in Brazil. Professor Laura Rodrigues of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - among the Lancet authors contributing to this series - explains why there’s been a massive reduction of the burden of infectious diseases in Brazil, and emphasises the paramount value of setting up well-organised, equitable health systems as the backbone of health policy.