International experts discussed the crisis in the health systems in Colombia and the world.

-The chronic crisis of the General system of Social Security in health in Colombia could deepen by the economic slowdown caused by the global crisis, but the Government does not adopt measures that protect the right to health of the Colombian people beyond the sustainability of the current system

-international experts explain the causes of the crisis and propose measures to get out of it

-civil society organizations and social movements in Colombia are pronounced by changes of model of health in the country and proponene strategies for cosntruir a new system of health for all citizens with the right to health as a premise

Bogotá, August 2012.- to analyze the experiences and proposals that allow to find solutions to the crisis of health systems in its financing aspectsuniversality, integrality and fairness will meet from 3 to 5 October this year in Bogotá, the II Congress International of health systems at the facilities of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.

Academics of worldwide recognition as doctors Navarro Vicente of the Pompeu Fabra University of Spain, Adam Wagstaff of World Bank, Sonia Fleury from Fundación Getúlio Vargas of Brazil, Ronald Labonte of the University of Ottawa in Canada, René Loewenson of Zimbabwe in Africa will participate in the event, Oscar Cetrángolo of the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina, among others. In addition, representatives of the national Government, the Constitutional Court, the Comptroller General of the Republic, the Attorney General of the nation, and the academic and business sectors, workers and social movements organized will participate.

The Congress is at a time when the worsening of the global economic crisis threatens to deepen in the General system of Social Security in health Colombia, while various sectors of national life, with the exception of the Government itself, pose to change the current model of health system, arguing that the causes of the crisis are structural and not short-term. These proposals seem to have reception among some members of the Congress of the Republic, which is to give effect to the discussion of the various proposals of law.

In this scenario the II International Congress of health systems will bring light to the discussion on how the contents of the global crisis affects health systems, especially in issues related to funding, showing scientific evidence and experiences on how health systems can overcome this adverse scenariomoving towards the universality and integrity of their actions, and equity in access to goods and services, giving priority to the health of the citizens of the country as a right.

For about twenty years, critical sectors of society have raised the need to change the model of the Colombia health policy, presenting its proposals in different legal, political and social scenarios without that so far they have been welcomed by those responsible for making decisions. Such claims and formulations have been increasing and consistent for all the experience of the health insurance system, but it is at the current juncture, of indignation and mobilizations by the harmful results of health policy, which are beginning to find echo.

Within the framework of the II Congress International of health systems which will be held in Bogotá on 3, 4 and 5 October at the Universidad Javeriana, also be presented alternatives through participatory discussions where experts, academics and sectors of business and social movementsthey will present their perspectives on the crisis of the Colombian health system;

Interested parties can participate in different ways:

1. As attendees, by registering on the website www.congresosistemasdesalud.com.

2. On the formation of panel discussions. Academic and social groups to the establishment of thematic tables of discussion on the topics invited citizenship and health systems financing. The instructions are on the website of the Congress on the Menu: Panel discussions.

3 Presenting summaries of research, tests, and/or social experiences to the e-mail congresosalud@javeriana.edu.co until Friday, August 31, 2012. On the web site, you can download and fill out the Word file ready to submit abstracts.

spokesmen profile

Dr. FRANCISCO JOSÉ YEPES LUJÁN.

Doctor, master’s degree in public health, University of Antioquia. Master of Sciences in management of health services and Doctor of public health, Harvard University. Specialist in preventive medicine. Director of the graduate programs in health administration, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.

Founding member of the Colombian Health Association (Assalud). He has been General Secretary of the Ministry of health, Vice President of the Institute of social security, an international consultant on health services (who, PAHO, IDRC, World Bank, IDB, Kellogg Foundation, Accenture, Governments of Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome and Prince, Dominican Republic) and researcher in health systems and policies.

Importance of their participation: is a person with extensive knowledge of the General system of Social Security and has studied in depth the model of assurance and health financing crisis.

JAIME RAMÍREZ MORENO

Economist-Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Doctor in economy and management of health, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Spain. Associate Professor of the graduate programs in health administration, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Universidad Javeriana. He has been Professor of public policy and State and development of the Universidad de los Andes and health economics of the National University. Expert on issues of funding and regulation in the sector health and author of numerous publications and presentations on these topics.

Importance of their participation: he is an expert on the subject of health systems financing policies and knows very well the reforms that have been made to the health system in recent years.

Román RAFAEL VEGA ROMERO

Doctor, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Master of health administration, University Javeriana. Specialist in Research Training in Social Research and PhD in management (critical systems thinking with an emphasis on health policies), University of Hull, England. Sociology development policy, National University of Colombia. Researcher and associate professor in the area of health policy, graduate programs in health and Social Security Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences; Professor of the Masters program in Social policy of the Faculty of political science and international relations, and Professor of the doctorate in social and human sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.

Importance of their participation: it has investigated in depth the relationship between health and social justice and has been a promoter of the active participation of citizens in the Social security system.

The specific topics that the Congress has defined for the formation of tables of discussion and summaries, among others, are:

-human rights, citizenship and health
health systems and equitable financing
-Economic Crisis and its impact on the health
-comparative perspectives of health systems financing system-
-other specific proposals within the framework of the topicgeneral statement of the Congress, at the initiative of the proponents.

Any additional information about the Conference and the forms of participation will be provided in the Congressional mail congresosalud@javeriana.edu.co and on the phone or phone 3208320 ext. 5432

Are all welcome!