public health system in Guatemala: main structural challenges and strategic reform proposals.

Authors

  • Jhonny Edward Villatoro Palacios Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70939/revistadiged.v2i2.40

Keywords:

Health system, public health function, investment in health, service coverage, primary care

Abstract

Objective: To critically analyze the exercise of public health functions in Guatemala based on available evidence regarding its structural and financial performance.

Methods: A descriptive systematic review with a correlational approach was conducted, primarily drawing on the technical report Diagnosis of the Health System of Guatemala (USAID, 2015–2023). Key indicators examined included service coverage, public expenditure, distribution of healthcare infrastructure, and human resources availability.

Results: Findings were contrasted with data from official sources, including the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, the Guatemalan Social Security Institute, the National Institute of Statistics, and the National Survey of Living Conditions. The analysis revealed significant investment gaps, inequalities in service provision, and persistent limitations in strengthening the first level of care.Conclusion: Guatemala faces the challenge of progressively increasing health budget allocation, developing specialized services, and modernizing integrated care networks, with emphasis on expanding coverage in rural areas characterized by high geographic dispersion and social vulnerability.

Author Biography

Jhonny Edward Villatoro Palacios, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala

docente universitario, Magister Sciensae en Administración de Servicios de Salud, Médico y Cirujano, aspirante a maestro en ciencias de investigación, académico por excelencia, egresado de la Tricentenaria Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Centro Universitario de Occidente.

References

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https://internationalmedicalrelief.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Guatemala-HSA-_ENG-FULL-REPORT-FINAL-APRIL-2016.pdf

Coyoy, M. y Villatoro, L. (28 de octubre de 2022). Guatemala no tiene una política pública para garantizar derechos sexuales y reproductivos. Plaza Pública.

https://www.plazapublica.com.gt/content/guatemala-no-tiene-una-politica-publica-para-garantizar-derechos-sexuales-y-reproductivos

Instituto Nacional de Estadística. (2019). Encuesta Nacional de Condiciones de Vida (ENCOVI 2019). https://www.ine.gob.gt/

Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social [MSPAS]. (2024). Memorias de labores del Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social (2024-2025). https://www.studocu.com/gt/document/universidad-rafael-landivar/enfermeria/memoria-de-labores-2024-2025-del-ministerio-de-salud-publica-y-asistencia-social/134533356

Organización Panamericana de la Salud [OPS]. (2017). Health in the Americas. Summary: Regional Outlook and Country Profiles. [Salud en las Américas. Resumen: Perspectivas regionales y perfiles de países]. https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/34321

Velásquez, A. M. (2022). La desigualdad social en Guatemala. Evaluación y respuesta institucional. Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL). https://repositorio.cepal.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/4823b015-41f9-45b5-887a-bf4a894f6d6c/content

World Bank Group. (2021). Guatemala public expenditure review: Toward more efficient and inclusive spending.[Hacia una mejor calidad del gasto: Revisión del gasto público en Guatemala]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1596/36753

https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/267711468031181114

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Published

2025-07-25

How to Cite

Villatoro Palacios, J. E. (2025). public health system in Guatemala: main structural challenges and strategic reform proposals. Revista Científica Avances En Ciencia Y Docencia, 2(2), 13–21. https://doi.org/10.70939/revistadiged.v2i2.40

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2025): Revista Científica Avances en Ciencia y Docencia

Section

Artículos

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Copyright (c) 2025 Jhonny Edward Villatoro Palacios

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