Desenvolvimento econômico, desigualdade e saúde

Abstract

The author refers to the social, economic, individual, and collective dimensions of the relationship between health and disease. He considers that individuals and populations are not equally exposed to protective and risk factors. He highlights the uneven development between nations and Brazilian regions, and communities, as well as discussing the relationship between development, wealth, health, and social justice. The article analyzes development theories and makes a distinction between economic development and growth. The concepts of development trap and social refugees are coined. The author defines a healthy community, points to the need for a shift in the current development model, and delineates the health sector's role and limitations in dealing with social inequality.

New drugs in Brazil: do they meet Brazilian public health needs?

“…In this phenomenon, termed "epidemiological overlap," rather than undergoing the expected transition experienced by most of the developed countries, morbidity and mortality rates remain high for both groups of diseases, and differences in the epidemiological characteristics of areas within a country, or even across social layers, are heightened (3,4).…”

Iniquities in the access to renal transplant for patients with end-stage chronic renal disease in Brazil

“…Besides, individuals and population groups are unequally submitted to protective and risk factors, generating iniquities in the population's health 39,40 . Disparities in health may be defined as "potentially avoidable differences in health (or in health risks that policy can influence) between groups of people who are more and less advantaged socially; these differences systematically place socially disadvantaged groups at further disadvantage on health" 41 (p. 180).…”

Pobreza, injustiça, e desigualdade social: repensando a formação de profissionais de saúde

“…Esta desigualdade no Brasil, e em muitos países da América Latina, apresenta caráter histórico-estrutural -que se estende desde o período da colonização do continente 39 -agravado pelo processo de globalização, que por sua vez ocasionou a dependência econômica dos países centrais, de onde surgem grupos populacionais com alto grau de discriminação, sem acesso ao trabalho e ao consumo, cujos direitos sociais e humanos foram regredindo 36,40 . Assim, percebe-se que tais direitos não estão enraizados nas relações sociais enquanto valores coletivos 31,41 .…”