Addressing health inequalities in Latin America: the role of social protection

Abstract After more than a decade of progress in various areas of social development, since 2015 poverty has increased, labor market indicators have deteriorated, and the reduction of income inequality has stagnated in Latin America. These trends are of concern as they can affect health indicators and exacerbate profound health inequalities. This situation demands integrated policy responses that can create synergies between different sectors. There is growing recognition of the role of social protection in the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequality. Various social protection mechanisms buffer against the costs of accessing health services directly and indirectly. By expanding coverage and universal access, promotion and prevention actions in health and nutrition, and fundamentally, the fight against poverty, inequality, and exclusion, social protection plays a fundamental role in guaranteeing the right to health and overcoming inequalities in this area. The reduction of inequalities in health should be a priority for all countries, and a way forward in that direction is to promote the construction and strengthening of universal social protection systems.

摘要：历经十余年各社会领域发展进步后，自2015年起，拉丁美洲地区贫困率攀升、劳动力市场指标恶化、收入不平等的缩减进程陷入停滞。此类趋势令人担忧，因其可能影响健康指标，并加剧严重的健康不平等问题。此种形势亟需跨部门协同的政策应对，以在不同领域间形成协同效应。社会保护（social protection）在消除贫困与缓解不平等中的作用正获得日益广泛的认可。各类社会保护机制可直接或间接缓冲就医服务的相关成本负担。通过扩大覆盖范围与实现全民可及性，推进健康与营养领域的促进与预防行动，并从根本上致力于消除贫困、不平等与社会排斥现象，社会保护在保障健康权、破解该领域的不平等问题中发挥着核心作用。缩小健康领域的不平等应成为各国的优先事项，而推进这一目标的可行路径之一，便是推动全民社会保护体系的构建与完善。