The newest issue of the Revista Panamericana de Salud Publica/Pan American Journal of Public Health is devoted entirely to the subject of health sector reform in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean. The special, 150-page double issue of Ju

The 2002 edition of this quadrennial publication presents a regional analysis of the health situation and trends in the Americas region, as well as for each of the 47 countries and territories in the region. It is published in two volumes and covers mainly the years from 1997-2000. This edition focuses upon the inequalities in health. Volume One looks at issues dealing with leading health and health-related indicators, ranging from mortality and changes in life expectancy to the relationship between health and income distribution. It also considers current health conditions and trends including disease prevention and control, health promotion and environmental protection. Volume Two examines each country's overall health conditions, including institutional organisation, health regulations and the overall operation of health services.

Recoge: Poverty and distribution; productive job creation; social integration; reforms now under way; economic reforms; social reforms; economic policies;social policies.

This publication considers the final reports of three research projects that explored how investing in health can benefit economic growth, household productivity, and poverty reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean. It contains case studies of health systems and policies in a number of countries including Brazil, Jamaica, Mexico and Peru; as well as a review of experiences from other regions in the world regarding health inequalities and poverty alleviation.