Development of Barrio Adentro mission in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. A brief account

Abstract

Introduction: The Venezuelan population was excluded from the public healthcare system for more than forty years, at first due to lack of economic resources to access these services alongside the precariousness of healthcare centers, neglected as they were by former capitalist governments who had fostered their privatization in the country. As of the year 1999, the just-constituted Bolivarian Government of President Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, started conducting a number of social transformations for the benefit of the people, including an increase in public health investment, with the purpose of stopping the privatization process. Reiterated difficulties for its implementation, owing to the resistance of internal opposing forces, led to a request for support from Cuba through its embassy and medical mission.

Objective: Describe the Mission Barrio Adentro and its implementation in Venezuela.

Results: As of the year 1999, amidst the social transformations occurring in Venezuela, the Bolivarian government increased public health investment and stopped the privatization process. The transformation of healthcare services complied with the models and principles of primary healthcare. The Barrio Adentro health system emerged and was implemented in 2003.

Conclusions: The Mission Barrio Adentro has been a program for the people, maintained with the participation of citizens under the principles of coordination, cooperation and independence.