El gasto en salud durante la revolución bolivariana en Venezuela

Abstract

Absract This paper’s objectives are to analyse the health expenditure during the Bolivariana Revolution (1999-2007) and to estimate its relation with health indicators, particularly mortality rates. This is the result of a descriptive and co relational research where disperse within different executive entities information about expenditure was organised and Pearson’s coefficients between public expenditure and mortality rates (general, child and maternal) were obtained. Some results show: public expenditure increased during 1990-2007; 3.38% of Gross Internal Product in 1990 to 9.08% in 2007. Increment pick was observed during the Bolivariana Revolution (1999-2007). The increasing public expenditure, despite the diminishing private expenditure, can explain this increment. Changes in public expenditure in health are evident: a decrease in the historical budget preponderance of the Health Ministry and the Venezuelan Institute of Social Insurances as opposed to a correspondent budget increment on behalf of the Misión Barrio Adentro (Inside Neighbourhood Mission) and the acquisition of health assets by centralised and decentralised public administration. Study results show strong inverse association between health public expenditure and mortality rates relative to diseases requiring many mental health services and showing a wide spectrum of individual and collective problems. Key words: Health expenditure, Bolivariana Revolution, expenditure effectiveness, health services