NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

There is growing recognition that policy reform for resilient health systems and universal health coverage requires more than sound technical solutions. The policy process is equally important in determining the success of any health reform initiative.

In this webinar, we present a comparative policy analysis exploring the post-conflict health reforms of Guatemala and El Salvador, analyzing the evolution of each country’s health system from the end of civil war in the 1990’s to the present. Both countries sought to expand primary healthcare coverage among the poor, but marked differences in the processes that shaped each country’s landmark health reforms set them on divergent paths—both in the nature and success of the reforms.

Ultimately, these contrasting experiences present useful lessons for policymakers in a variety of contexts, highlighting the importance of leadership, good governance, and political will in the stewardship of national health reform processes.