In 1979, the Government proposed the Bolivian Health System formed by the public subsector, Social Security, and private non-profit and for-profit sectors. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MSPS) heads the public subsector, which is responsible for the regulation and management of national policies and strategies. At the regional level, the prefectures are responsible for human resources administration. At the municipal level, municipal governments are charged with the administration of health facilities. Through the Strategic Health Plan, the General Economic and Social Development Plan (PGDES) is the basis for all health interventions.

The health policy included in the Strategic Health Plan (PES) has four strategic pillars: technical, intersectoral, social and legal management. The principal components of the PES are: universal access, basic health insurance, strengthening services network, family and community health, implementation of an epidemiological shield, strengthening basic health programs, and the development of a health curriculum.

Health System Profile of Bolivia

The second edition of the Profile was discussed by a group of 10 professionals and senior decision-makers from the General Bureau of Health Services, the General Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control, the General Directorate for Environmental and Occupational Health and Health Promotion, and the Program Chiefs of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as NGOs working in health, Save the Children, International Action for Health (A.I.S. Bolivia), the Center for Research, Education, and Service (C.I.E.S.), the PROCOSI Network, the Departmental Medical College of La Paz, the University of San Andrés Medical School (UMSA), and PAHO/WHO. The PAHO/WHO Representative Office in Bolivia was responsible for the technical coordination of the national group. Dr. Guillermo Seoane of John Snow, Inc. Mother Care Bolivia was commissioned to perform the ext ernal review. Final review, edition, and translation are the responsibility of the Health Systems and Policies Unit, PAHO/WHO, Washington, DC.

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Bolivia Country Profile - Health in the Americas, 2007
Link to Bolivia Ministry of Health
Link to PAHO/WHO country office in Bolivia