History of Latin American Dermatology

THE FUTURE OFDERMATOLOGY INLATIN AMERICARAFAEL FALABELLA■ The past El pasado and y el the futuro futureWhen we look into the past we come across history and we often find different versionsof the same event; but when we look into the future, it is difficult to anticipatewhat is going to happen, since history tends to change its course according to newevents that trace a path for those who go through it. Nevertheless, based on real factsof the present, it is possible to obtain an approximate view of things to come at the dawnof the twenty-first century, and a little beyond... a reality that only those present in yearsto come will see.■ Society and Dermatology in the Latin American regionSociety and Dermatology in the Latin American regionLatin America encompasses an important region of the planet that adds up to some400 million inhabitants, heirs of Spanish and Portuguese cultures. For different historicaland socio-political reasons, our countries are at a stage of development that variesfrom one geographic region to the next, and even within the same country. With similarancestral roots, the Latin American is characterized by his informality, strong family tiesand happy spirit, but with a tireless will for work and improvement.Our future is linked to the union of the nations that make it up, and more particularlywith the globalization phenomenon, which finds a good example in the Free Trade Area(FTA), which is becoming more of a reality every day 1 .In the same way that very strong socioeconomic blocks exist among other countries,our region will inexorably have similar characteristics as years go by, which will haveimportant repercussions in the scientific field, including Dermatology. The main problemis the capacity with which we will be able to face this challenge. It is stated that, at present,we are insufficiently prepared to compete with the developed world, since its membershave already solved their basic problems, while, on the contrary, many of ourcountries are just beginning to undergo important changes in their development. Becauseof this, we run the risk of being swept by a much more efficient competitivenessthat can cause unemployment, more poverty, higher costs for the health area and limitationson access to a specialist or to modern drugs owing to their high prices, as we are443