The Health System of Puerto Rico has gone through significant changes during the last 12 years. Until 1993 health services in Puerto Rico were provided by a public and private mixed system. In 1993 the government started a reform process that changed dramatically the way health services are provided to the indigent population of the country. The basic principles of the reform were to eliminate inequality in medical care, guarantee access to health services, improve the quality of services, and increase the efficiency and effectiveness through competitive mechanisms.

The health system was transformed by Law 72, which states that the government will not longer be the main provider of health services and will contract private companies to provide services to the indigent population of the Island. The law, known as Health System Reform Law, also created the Health Insurance Administration of Puerto Rico (ACES). In this new scheme, the Department of Health becomes the steward of the health sector, focusing its responsibilities on the elaboration of norms, regulation and monitoring of the sector.

 Health System Profile of Puerto Rico|


The present edition of the Health System Profile of Puerto Rico is the product of a joint effort by professionals of the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and of the Office of Coordination of PAHO/WHO of Puerto Rico. The responsibility for the final revision and editing corresponded to the Health Policies and Systems Unit (HP), Area of Health Systems Strengthening (HSS), of PAHO/WHO, Washington, DC

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Puerto Rico Country Profile - Health in the Americas, 2007