HEALTH SYSTEM PROFILES BELIZE
Health System Profile of Belize
The Ministry of Health is the only health service provider of the public sector. In the 1990s, the predominant health services model was characterized by its centralist approach in terms of treatment and disease and was oriented to consumers in terms of programming. Based on the principles of equity and sustainability, the emerging model of health care recognizes the need for: i) decentralization, participatory planning, and programming at the management level; and ii) the use of an approach oriented to the public at the programming level, by ensuring the provision of a comprehensive set of health services. The health sector reform process began in Belize in 1990 and is currently under implementation. The private sector is fairly limited. However, in recent years it has experienced a sustained growth in light of the health sector reform process, which promotes public-private partnerships in health care services.
The second edition of this profile was prepared by a group of four professionals and national policy decision makers from the Ministry of Health and the PAHO/WHO Representation in Belize. Technical coordination of the national group was the responsibility of and the PAHO/WHO Representation in Belize. The external review was completed by UNDP, Belize. Final review, edition, and translation are the responsibility of the Health Systems and Policies Unit, PAHO/WHO, Washington, DC.
Link to Belize Ministry of Health
Link to PAHO/WHO country office in Belize