Rodríguez CA, Gálvez GAM, Alvarez VL

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 13-27
PDF size: 357.04 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Introduction. Demographic aging is interrelated with social, economic, political and cultural factors. In Cuba, this process constitutes an unprecedented situation, which requires analysis and evaluation by managers and decision-makers due to the impacts it will cause.
Objective. To assess the economic implications of demographic aging and its importance for decision making in the health sector in Cuba.
Method. Content analysis was performed on works available between 2000 - 2017. Medline databases, EMBASE, Current Contents, Science Citation Index in Spanish, Demographic and Health Statistics Yearbooks were reviewed and 7 experts were consulted.
Results: The demographic aging causes important economic implications and demands for services, which differ and are previous to old age, which implies differences in needs and demands and especially economic ones. Advances and technological innovations and medicines for the care of the elderly cause an increase in the operating costs of health services, which require careful analysis by decision makers.
Final considerations. Demographic aging has important implications for meeting the demands of a heterogeneous population. In Cuba, one of the most affected sectors is the health sector, which will have important increases in its expenses and services, which will be demanded by an increasingly educated, qualified and informed population. These repercussions can be mitigated by making decisions designed under the principles of equity and active participation of the elderly.