A Look at the Healthcare System of Belize
A Look at the Healthcare System of Belize
Manuel Hicks
Health Care Organization & Delivery
Dr. Wilson
February 19, 2010
Overview/Healthcare System
Belize is a small country on the northeast coast of Central America bordering Mexico and Guatemala. The country has a tropical climate that is very humid. The total country population of Belize is estimated around 301,270 spread out among 6 districts. The country of Belize, #156 on the list of GDP rankings between countries, is a country that has sufficient healthcare at a low cost. The Belizean economy is based primarily on agriculture and services. The 1996 per capita income was $2,308 (US dollars). A 1995 Poverty Assessment report concluded that 24% of males and 31% of females lived in poverty. Indigence varies across the six districts with the Toledo District (where a majority of Maya live) having a 58% poverty rate (Smith, Carol A.M., A Country Report on Women’s Health, Belize, Central America.) The healthcare in Belize isn’t the best, not even up to European standards but there are doctors in almost every town in the country and they are well capable to handle most emergencies and illnesses. The healthcare there is inexpensive also. The Belizean government spends only 9% of its budget on healthcare, 6.6% less than what the U.S. spends on healthcare per year. Regrettably, as the saying goes, cheaper isn’t always better. The Belize healthcare system lacks a lot of the things that would make it strong, as well as affordable.
In the 1990’s, Belize employed a healthcare system that provided health services that was available for all citizens and paid for by the government. Due to mismanagement and lack of access, in 1996 the Prime Minister implemented a national health plan. The outcome of these changes was to be universal access to a set of comprehensive health services of acceptable quality, through primary health care (Pan American Health
Manuel Hicks
Health Care Organization & Delivery
Dr. Wilson
February 19, 2010
Overview/Healthcare System
Belize is a small country on the northeast coast of Central America bordering Mexico and Guatemala. The country has a tropical climate that is very humid. The total country population of Belize is estimated around 301,270 spread out among 6 districts. The country of Belize, #156 on the list of GDP rankings between countries, is a country that has sufficient healthcare at a low cost. The Belizean economy is based primarily on agriculture and services. The 1996 per capita income was $2,308 (US dollars). A 1995 Poverty Assessment report concluded that 24% of males and 31% of females lived in poverty. Indigence varies across the six districts with the Toledo District (where a majority of Maya live) having a 58% poverty rate (Smith, Carol A.M., A Country Report on Women’s Health, Belize, Central America.) The healthcare in Belize isn’t the best, not even up to European standards but there are doctors in almost every town in the country and they are well capable to handle most emergencies and illnesses. The healthcare there is inexpensive also. The Belizean government spends only 9% of its budget on healthcare, 6.6% less than what the U.S. spends on healthcare per year. Regrettably, as the saying goes, cheaper isn’t always better. The Belize healthcare system lacks a lot of the things that would make it strong, as well as affordable.
In the 1990’s, Belize employed a healthcare system that provided health services that was available for all citizens and paid for by the government. Due to mismanagement and lack of access, in 1996 the Prime Minister implemented a national health plan. The outcome of these changes was to be universal access to a set of comprehensive health services of acceptable quality, through primary health care (Pan American Health
References: Belize Healthcare System: Questions from U.S. Healthcare Volunteers Retrieved Feb 10, 2010, from Hillside Belize’s website: Affairs and Youth Development, 1997; Macke, 1993. Pan American Health Organization (1999). Health Analysis: Belize. Retrieved Feb. 6, 2010, from PAHO’s website: http://www.paho.org/english/HIA1998/Belize.pdf. Pan American Health Organization (2007). Health Analysis: Belize. Retrieved Feb 8, 2010, From PAHO’s website: http://new.paho.org/blz/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=17&Itemid= Pan American Health Organization (2007-2011). Belize National Health Plan. Retrieved Jan 29, 2010, From PAHO’s website: http://new.paho.org/blz/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=21&Itemid= Smith, Carol A.M. (2004). A Country Report on Women’s Health. 1, 14