Health Care Financing and Delivery in the US, Mexico and Canada: Finding and Establishing Intentional Principles for Sound Integration

Abstract

This article explores whether and how to integrate the financing and delivery of health care services in North America. First, the article describes the process of economic integration since World War II in Europe and the Americas. This discussion describes the provisions in various treaties that affect domestic health care sectors and focuses on how the European Union (EU) has addressed domestic health sectors in the integration and accession processes as a possible model for North America. Second, the article describes the health sectors in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This section analyzes the comparative performance of the three orth American health sectors and the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA) on these sectors. Finally, the article sets forth three principles that should ensure the protection of health care sectors in the process of economic integration.

Keywords: Health and Human Rights, Global Health, Economic Integration, Free Trade Agreements