Hospital Systems in Latin America: Transformation and Change, 1960s–2020s

Few social investments are as closely linked to life as investment in health. International studies depict a social revolution beginning in the latter half of the 20th century, marked by the establishment of universal access systems in many wealthy nations. Little is known about how such systems evolved in other regions. This chapter undertakes, for the first time, an analysis of human resources and hospital bed provisions since 1960 across 17 Latin American countries. The text addresses three key inquiries: Has the development of hospital systems in Latin America adhered to a uniform pattern across the entire region? Can we pinpoint significant external stimuli that precipitated changes in healthcare systems across Latin America? Are hospital systems in Latin America today superior to those of a century ago?