Third World experiences in health planning.

ABSTRACT

PIP: Health planning provided by the U.S. to Latin American countries in the last 4 decades has been culturally imperialistic. 3 periods with different emphases are described; there were mistakes made in all 3. It must be realized that the social function of health services in all dependent countries has been to preserve the status quo, to alleviate but not to cure or prevent diseases of the masses, to perpetuate social domination by the upper classes. Public health problems are basically social rather than merely medical; they can only be solved by revisions in social policy. A U.S. State Dept. directive in 1978 encouraged new emphasis on low-cost primary care, especially for the rural and poor sectors of the population, in developing countries. This new orientation in U.S. health planning policy can be achieved with local community participation and decision-making.