Is comprehensive primary health care part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America?

Abstract

Abstract Latin America has become one of the epicenters of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a health and humanitarian crisis. The objective of the article is to analyze the strategies implemented by countries in the Region to face the pandemic and the role of Primary Health Care, considering obstacles and potential. The cases of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Uruguay and Venezuela were analyzed. The seven countries have adopted diverse social distancing strategies with varying degrees of sustainability. The responses emphasized hospital care more than surveillance, case identification, contact tracking, and enabling adequate conditions for isolation. In almost all cases studied, the capacity of primary care services in the territory was underestimated. Even so, primary care initiatives with a territorial and community focus sought to integrate health surveillance with promotion, prevention and care, despite partial implementation. In this context, comprehensive and integrated primary care takes on new meaning and requires new developments in order to contribute to the recovery of the balance between society and the environment. The pandemic showed the need to rethink health care systems and the importance of primary care for comprehensive and integrated health.