Abstract

COLLAZO RAMOS, Milagros Isabel; CALERO RICARDO, Jorge Luis  and  RODRIGUEZ CABRERA, Aida Leonor. Needs, realities and possibilities of the Cuban public health system in the light of the population aging. Rev. cub. salud pública [online]. 2010, vol.36, n.2, pp. 155-159. ISSN 0864-3466.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0864-34662010000200009.

Population aging is one of the greatest achievements of mankind at the present time; however the rise of the number of older persons represents a very pressing challenge for health policies and strategies, with a view to meeting the needs of the elderly and giving them the possibility of enjoying good quality of life. This article encourages people to make reflections on the needs, realities and possibilities of the Cuban public health system, and thus to suggest some theoretical elements that should be taken into account for the analysis of and facing up to this increasingly growing demographic situation.

Keywords : Population aging; health system; health care.