PANES: Focus and Impact

The paper presented by Fernando Borraz (professor at The University of Montevideo) in our seminar, aims to quantify the efficiency in targeting the National Health Plan for the National Emergency (PANES) implemented in Uruguay between 2005 and 2007 and determine its impact on relevant issues, such as school attendance, child labor and labor supply.
Doctor Borraz stressed the findings: in 2007, 27% of households in Montevideo and other cities that met the requirements to be in PANES, failed to enter the program; while less than 2% of households that did not meet the eligibility criteria established, received benefits from the program. He concluded that in practice the program targeting was not high, but indicators show a marked improvement in targeting when compared to 2006.
In relation to the evaluation, he commented that the PANES has not had a significant effect on school attendance and child labor. However, he noted, that it is observed a reduction 1.4% in the work hours of men and 8% in the work hours of women in the urban interior.
Finally, Professor Borraz, concluded saying that the PANES had a partial resolution, because it was addressed in a short-term plan many aspects as employment, school attendance, health, among others; that are difficult to solver together.