Health inequalities by region and social group based on data from household surveys (Brazil, 1998-2013).

This article discusses trends in health inequalities and access to health services across the regions of Brazil using data from household surveys conducted between 1998 and 2013. Social inequality was measured based on the ratio between the extremes of years of schooling considering two age groups (18 to 59 years and 60 years and over). The findings show a decline in health status and increase in prevalence of diabetes and hypertension in both age groups, which may be related to the expansion of primary healthcare.

[An analysis of use of the health services by financing system: Brazil 1998-2008].

This article analyzes the use of health services from the perspective of financing based on PNAD/IBGE micro-data related to 1998, 2003 and 2008. Among the main results, the following can be highlighted: 1) The Unified Health System (SUS) continues to be the major financing agent of most consultations and hospitalizations in Brazil; its participation increased significantly between 1998 and 2003 and remained almost stable between 2003 and 2008; 2) SUS participation in financing the use of the health services has been predominant in all Brazilian regions, especially in the North and North-East, which feature the most precarious socio-economic and health conditions; 3) SUS is the major financing agent of the two extreme levels of complexity of health care: primary care and high complexity services. 4) In spite of a significant rise in utilization rates of SUS services for consultations and hospitalizations, great inequities can still be observed between the population that exclusively uses SUS and that which has private health insurance; 5) There has been an increase in the use of SUS health services by part of the population with private health insurance plans.

[Communicative approach of Situational Strategic Planning at the local level: health and equity in Venezuela].

The article discusses the results of operationalizing Situational Strategic Planning adapted to the local level in health, considering the communicative approach and equity in a parish in Venezuela. Two innovative criteria were used: estimated health needs and analysis of the actors' potential for participation. The problems identified were compared to the corresponding article on rights in the Venezuelan Constitution.

[The public-private mix in the Brazilian Health System: financing, delivery and utilization of health services].

This paper analyzes the public-private mix in the Brazilian Health System from the perspective of health care delivery, utilization and financing. Moreover, this quantitative study based on secondary data from official databases contemplates the subsidies granted by the government to the private sector. It shows the existence of some inequalities favoring the population having private health plans, a result of the peculiar participation of the private sector in the Brazilian Health System not only offering supplementary care but duplicating the coverage offered by the public system (called SUS).

[Equity and geographic distribution of financial resources in health systems].

This study focuses on equity in health and specifically the geographic distribution of financial resources. The author reviews the main contemporary theories of social justice and discusses the concept of equity in general and specifically in the health field. Based on the discussion of selected international experiences (United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy), the Resource Allocation Working Party (RAWP) formula used in the United Kingdom is identified as the most adequate distributive methodology, sizing the relative needs based on the population's demographic and epidemiological profiles.