Health and regional integration: health governance challenges in MERCOSUR

Bianculli, Andrea C. and Ribeiro Hoffman, Andrea (2015). Health and regional integration: health governance challenges in MERCOSUR. PRARI Working Paper 15-7; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.

Abstract

This paper analyses the process of institutionalization of regional cooperation in health in the Common Market of the South (Mercosur). In so doing, it looks into the policy and regulatory frameworks promoted, and comparatively assesses Mercosur member-states’ national systems of health. Our argument is that the bloc lacks a clear definition of the model to be pursued to promote regulation and the provision of health services, being this further hindered by the strong differences across domestic health systems. In all, the possibility of achieving consensus on common norms and standards at the regional tier of governance is not very promising. Moreover, the health agenda in Mercosur seems to be losing its raison d’être given the activism of the more recently created UNASUR in this area.

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