Universal health system and universal health coverage: assumptions and strategies. (English)

Sistema universal de saúde e cobertura universal: desvendando pressupostos e estratégias. (Portuguese)

In recent years the international debate about universality in health has been marked by a polarization between ideas based on a universal system, and notions proposing universal health coverage. The concept of universal coverage has been disseminated by international organizations and has been incorporated into health system reforms in several developing countries, including some in Latin America. This article explores the assumptions and strategies related to the proposal of universal health coverage. Firstly, a comparison is provided of the models of universal health coverage and universal health systems. This is followed by a contextualization of the international debate, including examples of different health systems. Finally, the implications of the proposal of universal coverage for the right to health in Brazil are discussed. The analysis of different concepts of universality and the experiences of different countries shows that health insurance-based models, either social or private, are not as satisfactory as public, universal health systems. Greater understanding about ongoing international projects is essential in order to identify the possibilities represented by the consolidation of the Unified Health System (SUS) in Brazil, as well as the risks of dismantling the SUS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nos últimos anos, acirrou-se o debate internacional sobre diferentes concepções de universalidade em saúde, polarizado nas propostas de sistema universal versus cobertura universal em saúde. A concepção de cobertura universal tem sido difundida por organizações internacionais e incorporada às reformas dos sistemas de saúde de alguns países em desenvolvimento, inclusive na América Latina. O artigo explora os pressupostos e as estratégias relacionados à proposta de cobertura universal de saúde. Inicialmente contrastamse as concepções de universalidade nos modelos de cobertura universal e de sistemas universais de saúde. A seguir, contextualiza-se o debate internacional, incluindo exemplos de diferentes sistemas de saúde. Por fim, discutem-se as implicações da concepção de cobertura universal para o direito à saúde no Brasil. A análise das diferentes concepções de universalidade e das experiências de países evidenciam que arranjos de seguros (privados ou sociais) não superam as fortalezas de sistemas públicos universais de saúde. A compreensão dos projetos em disputa no cenário internacional é fundamental para identificar possibilidades e ameaças à consolidação do Sistema Único de Saúde no Brasil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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