Guatemala's health poses early challenge for Morales

Subject

Guatemala's struggling health service.

Significance

Repeated protests have taken place in Guatemala since late 2015, calling for greater investment in the struggling healthcare system. Recently elected President Jimmy Morales will come under pressure to allocate more funds to the system but Guatemala's precarious fiscal situation will prevent the large-scale investment that is required for major improvements.

Impacts

• The healthcare system will come under additional pressure in the coming months as a result of the Zika virus, which emerged in late 2015.
• Protests (comprising largely doctors, medical students, patients and their families) could escalate if the issue remains unaddressed.
• Morales may prioritise his anti-corruption campaign, which could be expanded to address irregularities in the healthcare system.