Historical Background and Perspectives of Social Participation in the Colombian Health System

Abstract

The paper aims to provide the historical background and perspectives of participation as a foundation of health as a right to the social, institutional and academic classes in charge of managing and strengthening it. The achievements and obstacles of the participative processes are shown in four historical moments, determined by the focus and structure of the System, health policies, as well as the socioeconomic, cultural and political conditions that condition citizen participation and incidence in the promotion, prevention, attention and surveillance processes related to health, with a particular focus on rights, equity and social justice. The paper also gathers together the proposals for strengthening participation in health, which resulted from the discussions at the System Users discussion panel, summoned in September 2010, by the Ministry of Social Protection within the framework of the Health System reform process. Finally, the paper suggests a series of incidental participation requirements, strategies and methods, betting on the participation by citizens and their organizations in the formulation, management and surveillance of public policies related to the right to health.