The challenges of health situation analysis in Colombia

Abstract

General and local health situation analyses have increasingly become a political issue with implications for the population under study and for decision makers, as it involves the spheres of power, and entails economic, social and cultural responsibilities. As an essential function of public health, health situation analysis has assessment parameters that make it possible to direct its development and measure its implications. This is where the first challenge lies. However, the most important ones go beyond the technical criteria established in the year 2000 by the Pan American Health Organization. The local dynamics where health situation analyses are inscribed, are increasingly more influenced by globalization processes, which in turn demand that international policies be articulated in our country, as is the case with the Sustainable Development Goals. Moreover, the demographic and epidemiological transition requires accounting for heterogeneous profiles including mental, occupational and environmental health. In addition, complexity increases in a context like ours, with deep inequalities that should be addressed within the framework of the Social Security System, which imply challenges in terms of knowledge, technical aspects, articulation, context, coherence, and policies.

Keywords

• Public health
• health systems
• public policy
• sustainable development goals
• health equity
• health services needs and demand