title: [The health system of Nicaragua].
abstract: This paper describes the health conditions in Nicaragua and discusses the characteristics of its national health system including its structure and coverage, its financial sources its physical, material and human resources the stewardship functions developed by the Ministry of Health the participation of citizens in the operation and evaluation of the system and the level of satisfaction of health care users. It also discusses the most recent policy innovations, including the new General Health Law, the decentralization of the regulation of health facilities and the design and implementation of a new health care model known as Family and Community Health Model.
authors.affiliation: Centro Centroamericano de Población, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica. jorine.muiser@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jorine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muiser
authors.forename: María del Rocío
authors.initials: Mdel R
authors.lastname: Sáenz
authors.forename: Juan Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bermúdez
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003710:Demography; D005381:Financing, Organized / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006078:Government Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006295:Health Resources / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006298:Health Services Administration / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007342:Insurance Benefits / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009527:Nicaragua; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D017149:Private Sector / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011634:Public Health; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012943:Social Security / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014798:Vital Statistics