Abstract
Community participation in health was established as a guiding principle in the development of Cuban health services as early as 1961. This paper examines the nature and scope of popular participation in health utilizing Arnstein's “ladder of participation” as a theoretical framework for analysis. Attention is focused in particular on two of Cuba's mass organizations — the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR's) and the Cuban Women's Federation (FMC) — and on the broad-based People's Commissions on Health and Public Health Commissions which they help comprise.
Cuba's strong accent on consumer participation at all levels of society, and particularly at the broad institutional level, is seen as providing an important example to health professionals in other nations concerned with facilitating consumer involvement in the quest for healthier societies.
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