Collective health and regional integration in Latin America: An opportunity for building a new international health agenda

HERRERO, MARÍA BELÉN; LOZA, JORGELINA; BELARDO, MARCELA BEATRIZ

Global Public Health

Taylor & Francis Group

Año: 2019 p. 1 - 12

1744-1692

From its origins, the Latin American Social Medicine and the CollectiveHealth (LASM/CH) movements have focused on thinking about healthfrom and for the region. After the implementation of neoliberal policies,social improvements and the geopolitical strengthening of the regionbecame the roots of new regional integration projects in South America.The objective of this article is twofold. First, we explore the legacy oflong-standing efforts in the region that address the social and politicaldimensions of health, associated with the LASM/CH movements andtheir influence on the contemporary regional health agenda. Second, weanalyze the UNASUR Health policy, its role in the construction of aregional health agenda, and the principles of South-South cooperation itsupports. In order to accomplish this, a qualitative analysis wasconducted, involving primary and secondary data. Through UNASUR, anew framework of regional health integration and regional healthdiplomacy emerged in South America and a ?window of opportunity?opened for the ideas of Social Medicine and Collective Health to occupya dominant place on the regional health agenda. It is possible toobserve a confluence between the principles and values of thesemovements and those of the main constituent bases of UNASUR Health.