Presentation of the book Integrated networks of health services in Colombia and Brazil. A case study

2018-06-12

On February 27, 2018 the University of Rosario in Bogotá hosted the launch of the book Integrated Networks of Health Services in Colombia and Brazil. A case study that presents partial results of the research project "Impact on equity access and efficiency of integrated health services networks in Colombia and Brazil (Equity-LA) ", also financed by the EU, developed between 2009 and 2013 and predecessor of Equity LA II, currently underway. The book, edited by the University of Rosario, was prepared by researchers from the different teams that carried out the project: Consortium of Health and Social of Catalonia (Spain), the Institute of Tropical Medicine Prince Leopoldo (Belgium), the University of Rosario (Colombia) and the University of Pernambuco, together with the Aggeu Magalhães Institute and the Institute of Integral Medicine Professor Fernando Figueira (Brazil).

During her presentation, Dr. María Luisa Vázquez (Health and Social Consortium of Catalonia) highlighted some relevant aspects of the project as the adaptation and application of the theoretical framework for the evaluation of integrated health services networks and the importance of the use of mixed methods for the approach to research problems and the contribution to scientific knowledge. She explained these concepts referring to the book and other scientific publications. On her side, Dr. Amparo Susana Mogollón (University of Rosario) presented the structure and contents of the book. In addition to the theoretical framework and methods, it describes the results of the case study in Colombia and Brazil on access to care, coordination, and continuity across levels of attention and efficiency of the networks. It also includes a comparative discussion of the results and recommendations.

The event closed with the comment of Dr. Francisco José Yepes from the Institute of Public Health of the Pontific University Javeriana. He highlighted some valuable elements of the study. First, the originality and richness of the perspective used for the health services research, which allows addressing problems traditionally not analyzed. Also, he spoke about the importance of the development of a case study to understand the phenomenon and its context, the benefit coming from the analysis of a policy promoted without evidence on its impact, the approach from the perspective of different actors including patients. Of notice also the development of a solid and broad conceptual framework that includes international scientific production and confers methodological rigor to the study. Finally, Dr. Yepes emphasized on the importance of the inclusion of two countries with different health systems, sharing common problems and last, the proposal of recommendations for public policymakers, for the improvement of the provision of health services that result in better health for the population and greater efficiency in the use of public resources.

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