Bolivian Govt Confirms Plans for Universal Healthcare in 2019

Bolivian President Evo Morales said Monday that the country will have a new system of free medical care “for the people” by 2019.

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The announcement was made after Morales met with the National Coordination for the Change, or Conalcam.

“We are going to implement from next year the universal and free health insurance with the economic resources of the National Treasure, not the money of the workers, just to make it clear," said the president.

The measure comes after a long debate with social movements, institutions and health sectors, as the latter rejected an earlier proposal to fund the insurance with taxes on health professionals via the Caja Nacional de Salud.

He added that his government will follow up on the negotiations with regional health institutions.

The country’s 2016-2020 social-economic development plan aims to achieve universal access to health, with 200 projects underway in order to achieve this purpose.