Venezuela’s Health Care Revolution
Description
Established under late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, Misión Barrio Adentro (MBA)—Venezuela’s adaptation of the Cuban social medical model—utilizes a free, universal health care system to serve and educate rural, poor and marginalized populations and to broaden the very praxis and ideology of what health means in a true Latin American social medicine approach. MBA moves beyond conventional medicine to form a true community-oriented primary care system. Through qualitative research with personnel from both sides of the political spectrum in Venezuela, Venezuela’s Health Care Revolution offers a unique analysis of MBA’s ability to empower marginalized populations to become health care providers for their own medically vulnerable and under-served communities. Further, Chris Walker argues that the potential of this medical approach is significant not just in Latin America but in Canada and the United States as well.
Reviews
“This book shows that another approach to public healthcare is possible. Chris Walker offers insights into a successful alternative to the conventional approach to medicine, and provides an invaluable lesson about healthcare to us in our own ’developed’ country. ”
- John M. Kirk, Dalhousie University