PRONOUNCEMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR HEALTH POLICY
(IAHP)AND THE LATINOAMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL MEDICINE (ALAMES)
FOR VENEZUELA, IN THE WAKE OF THE REFERENDUM OF AUGUST 15TH
September 27th, 2004
The IAHP and the ALAMES wish to express publicly their congratulations
to the Venezuelan people and would like to share this important moment
of the results of the referendum of August 15th, which has confirmed
Hugo Chávez Frías, in the post of President of the Republic.
This
fact represents the consolidation of his legitimacy, which has been
confirmed by the people in seven other electoral processes in the last
five years, and which is a consequence of the changes currently
underway in Venezuelan society and its government:
- During this period, a further 1.5 million Venezuelans have access to drinking water, and the electricity companies continue to build power stations throughout the country.
- The Social Security system has not been privatized: pension have been linked to the minimum wage.
- National spending on health and education has doubled to 8% and 7% of GDP respectively. Doctors and teachers are now the highest-paid professionals, and the salaries of other health professionals are catching up.
- The most remote villages of the country now have a doctor, thanks to the support a