Health in Cali and Valle del Cauca. A conception of social enterprise

Abstract

Public health is a discipline in constant change. Consequently, it is nourished by previous experiences and projects successive approaches and approximations. Among the advances achieved in recent years are the stimulus and development of the vision to promote health, the concept of health as a state of well-being that includes, in addition to the biological phase, the environmental, lifestyle, equity and efficiency, and the quality of services; and, in addition, the vision of health as a social enterprise, conducted in a managerial and strategic perspective. Several experiences have been generated in Cedi and the Valley in the last few years and have been applied in the public institutional sector and private entities. All of them have had the support of universities and health services, and contain, as relevant aspects, promotion efforts and a vision of integral health. The role of “health teams” stands out in this vision, with the presence of health settings and the active community. Cali, Valle del Cauca, and Colombia are increasingly important players on the international public health scene. In this sense, the Cali and Valle del Cauca sectors have embraced the universally accepted approaches of bringing health closer to efficient, equitable, and wide coverage organizational models.

This article presents some fundamental elements of the development process of health organizations in Cali and Valle, mainly to highlight the background, conceptual framework, and strategic approach. A subsequent publication will provide details on achievements and projections.