Syncrisis, the dynamics of health : 1. Panama

In general, the approach has been to review and analyze readily available data in order to indentify the most prevalent and severe as indications of disease occurence and spread. Part One of this report is an analysis of the physical-geographic and social psychological environment within which disease arises-the living conditions contributing to poor health; the problems of over-burdening health care resources by a growing population: the disease relating to socio-economic development; the economic and social costs of these diseases; the malnutrition complicating other problems and as a problem within itself. Part Two identifies the resources of the health sector, viewed from the perspective of both recipients of care and the providers of care-domestic and foreign agencies and formal activities of the health sector; recent health planning activities in relation to present health conditions: and finally a summary of the demands of the population upon the health sector, which describes the factors affecting these demands and assesses the current use of the health resources in light of these demands.