[4] When looking at the right to health with respect to children, Honduras achieves 98.6% of what is expected based on its current income.
[5] In regards to the right to health amongst the adult population, the country achieves only 91.3% of what is expected based on the nation's level of income.
The leading causes of death were perinatal disorders, congenital malformations, pneumonia, diarrhea, and child malnutrition.
Immunization coverage in the population under 1 year in 2015 was 100% for BCG, 99% for poliomyelitis, 100% for rotavirus, 99% for the pentavalent vaccine, and 99% for pneumococcus.
In 2015, the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was 0.4% in the population aged 15–49, transmitted mainly by heterosexual contact.
[8] The Government has identified the following health challenges: (i) restructuring the MoH to strengthen its steering role and implement the separation of functions; (ii) implementing the Results-based Management Monitoring and Evaluation System, thereby strengthening the Integrated Health Information System; (iii) developing public policies that promote healthy habits and lifestyles; (iv) implementing the International Health Regulations; (v) monitoring compliance with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; (vi) retrofitting infrastructure to achieve optimal operation of the health services network; (vii) conducting research on indigenous and Afro-descendant populations to learn about evidence-based interventions; (viii) hiring relevant, high quality human talent in the necessary numbers, especially to strengthen the first level of care and ensure the continuity of the model; and (ix) strengthening activities to ensure quality care and patient safety in health facilities.
The Ministry serves the entire population in its own facilities staffed by its own physicians and nurses, but it is estimated that only 50%-60% of Hondurans regularly use these services.
The teams, each consisting of a physician, a nurse, and a health promoter, give priority to communities living in extreme poverty, environmentally vulnerable conditions, and situations of violence.
By mid-2015, a total of 367 teams were already working in the field and serving 1.4 million people, promoting qualitative improvements in their attitudes and habits.
[8] Prior to 2015, there was no law that legally defined the national health care model or mechanisms for regulating it.
The new model encourages a diversity of participating sectors and entities, with clear separation of the system's functions.
More effective application of the model also requires further improvement of public health service management and greater human resource development.
Efforts are being made to promote and strengthen multisectoral partnerships and the generation of evidence for the Health in All Policies approach, especially in relation to noncommunicable diseases and injuries due to external causes.
Further development of national capacity and competencies for measuring equity and inequalities in health is also necessary, as is effective implementation of the human rights and gender/ethnic equality approaches.
[8] The Honduran Social Security Institute which runs the national public health system was established in 1959.