Countries across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are facing rising healthcare costs as populations age and chronic diseases become more common. A new study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas by Yvonne N. Flores, Timothy Roberton, Marisol Torres Toledano, Carla Jorge Machado, Angélica López Hernández, Claudio A. García Mora, and colleagues explores how demographic shifts and changes in disease patterns are shaping health expenditures in the region.
Drawing on data from seven countries—including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago—the authors show how health spending differs across age groups and disease categories. For example, older populations and conditions such as circulatory and respiratory diseases account for the highest costs. Published with support from the Inter-American Development Bank, the study highlights the urgent need for countries to plan sustainable strategies to manage rising health expenditures while ensuring access to quality care.