Cross-border cooperation in health in Mercosur countries

Over the past centuries and decades, relationships have developed between border communities, manifested through economic exchanges, social and family relationships, and informal cooperation between authorities. In short, it is an identity and a cross-border way of living and facing the daily challenges and obstacles that limit cross-border integration. Healthcare and patient mobility is key to the well-being of border populations, especially in the COVID19 pandemic. The institutional cooperation developed within the framework of Mercosur is the way towards greater integration of the cross-border strips of the member countries -Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay-. The pandemic showed local needs and generated the opportunity for improvement in health issues and cross-border healthcare. This study makes a diagnosis of the situation in Mercosur and at the same time presents the best practices of the European Union, through the support of the Association of European Border Regions (ARFE), designing a route to strengthen cooperation.