Puerto Rico Healthcare System: A Comprehensive Analysis

Introduction

Healthcare systems across the world are experiencing critical problems. The purpose of this research is to examine the healthcare system of Puerto Rico. This paper investigates population characteristics, the economy, health status parameters, financial parameters, access and availability, accountability, planning, patient autonomy, and satisfaction. It determines how these factors influence the effectiveness of the overall healthcare system on the island of Puerto Rico.

Population Characteristics

Puerto Rico is an island located east of the Dominican Republic.[1] As a result of the Spanish-American War, Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States, and its citizens were granted U.S. citizenship in 1917.[2] The island has been at the forefront of political and economic debate for quite some time. It was originally inhabited by aboriginal peoples, but after 400 years of colonial rule, the original population was nearly extinct.[3]

As of July 2004, the total population of Puerto Rico was 3,897,960.[4] The CIA World Factbook reports that 22.4% of the population is 14 years of age or younger — 446,474 males and 426,585 females in this age group.[5] Sixty-five percent of the population is between the ages of 15 and 64, with 1,220,721 males and 1,329,936 females.[6] Those 65 and older compose 12.2% of the population, with 205,933 males and 268,311 females.[7] The median age is 33.8 years, and population growth is estimated at 0.49%.

The island of Puerto Rico is mainly inhabited by whites of Spanish origin, who make up 80% of the population. In addition, 8% of the population is Black, 0.4% are Amerindian, 0.2% are Asian, and 10.9% are mixed or other.[8] Eighty-five percent of the population is Catholic, and Spanish and English are the primary languages spoken on the island.

Over 80% of the population of Puerto Rico is under the age of 65, and the median age is 33.8 years.[9] Therefore, most of the population is relatively young. The health status of the population is also influenced by traditional meals and eating habits. The consumption of traditional Latin dishes contributes to higher rates of diabetes and other health problems.

The Economy and Its Health Implications

According to the CIA World Factbook, Puerto Rico has a unique economy. The industrial sector has surpassed the traditional agricultural sector as the primary driver of economic activity.[10] The economy benefits from duty-free access to the United States and certain tax incentives.[11] Many American companies also have significant investments in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico follows the same minimum wage laws as the United States. Within the agricultural sector, dairy production and livestock products are the primary sources of income.[12] Sugar production has declined and largely been replaced by these products. Tourism is also an extremely important sector; an estimated 5 million tourists visited Puerto Rico in 1999. Economic growth declined from 2001 to 2003, largely due to the contraction of the American economy.

The overall GDP of Puerto Rico is approximately $65 billion, and the per capita GDP is $16,800. The inflation rate stood at 6.5% at the end of 2003, and the unemployment rate was 12%.[13] Major agricultural products include livestock, coffee, sugarcane, plantains, bananas, chickens, and pineapples.[14] Prominent industries include food products, electronics, apparel, pharmaceuticals, and tourism.[15]

The unemployment rate in Puerto Rico is relatively high. A high unemployment rate can diminish an individual's or family's ability to afford healthcare. When people cannot afford healthcare, access to services declines and the health status of the population suffers. The types of industries present in Puerto Rico do not appear to directly influence the overall health status of the population, but economic insecurity clearly creates barriers to care.