The constitution of Bolivia establishes the state’s obligation to guarantee and uphold the right to health state assumes primary financial responsibility[1] for the country’s health system. The Unified Health System (SUS) is composed of the public health system, social security, services that churches administer, private for-profit and nonprofit institutions and providers of traditional medicine.
Spending data for 2017 are several: Public spending on health equalled US$ 1.685 million or 11.2% of total public spending and 69.2% of total health spending. The general government financed 51.7% of current spending on health, mainly through the General Treasury of the Nation (43.1%) and with specific resources (8.5%). Private employers financed 17.3% of current health expenditures. Current public expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP was equal to 4.5%.[2]
Gradual expansion of public insurance
To advance progress towards a single universal and free health system, in 2019 the law called Ley 1152 expanded the beneficiary population for free health care to people not covered by social security. As a result of all these public insurance programs, household out-of-pocket spending fell from 33.5% of current health spending in 2000 to 21.3% in 2020.
References
- Artículo No.37. Constitución Política del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia.2009
- World Health Organisation, Global Health Expenditure Database, Health Expenditure Profile (choose country)
- World Health Organisation, Global Health Expenditure Database Health Expenditure Profile (choose country)
