RIO DE JANEIRO, July 26 (Xinhua) -- In a healthcare congress in Rio, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet called on Thursday for improvements in public healthcare in Latin America.

In her speech as guest speaker at the 12th Brazilian Congress of Collective Healthcare held in Rio, Bachelet said Latin American countries should take advantage of their diversity to exchange experiences in healthcare.

Bachelet, former Chilean health minister before being elected president in 2006, believes that governments of the region must make an effort to address the inequality in access to healthcare, as some segments of society, such as indigenous populations and women, are left in a more vulnerable position in this aspect.

"If governments want to give their people a consistent answer, they must invest in healthcare," she said, highlighting that improving access to healthcare eventually helps improve productivity in a country.

The 12th Brazilian Congress of Collective Healthcare, which lasts until Sunday, discusses the Brazilian public healthcare system and access to healthcare services in the country.