In the 2012 resolution (A/RES/67/81) the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized the importance of national health systems ensuring universal coverage, especially through primary care mechanisms. This is so that everyone, particularly the most vulnerable sectors of the population, have access to health services (UN, 2013).

Equity in health implies that, ideally, anyone should have a fair chance to reach their full health potential and, pragmatically, that no one should be at a disadvantage in achieving it (Whitehead, 1991). From this perspective, the existence of any disease prevents people from participating in the principle of equal opportunities (Zúñiga-Fajuri, 2011). The above makes it essential to recognize the social obligation to reduce the barriers that limit access to effective, timely and quality health care (Flamand and Moreno, 2014). In an environment that is becoming increasingly complex and changing due to the epidemiological and demographic patterns experienced by the region (PAHO, 2022), the reduction of health inequities represents a priority challenge for the management of health systems in any country, so the provision of health services requires at least the following conditions: (a) an adequate and competent health workforce capable of providing proximity and quality health care centered on the person. b) management models that are committed to and invest in universal health coverage (WHO, 2021), and c) the implementation of public policies and actions with a multi-sectoral approach to address the social determinants of health and foster the commitment of the whole society to promote health and well-being (WHO/PAHO, 2014).