PAHO Sets a New 2026–2031 Strategic Plan for a Healthier and More Resilient Americas
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has wrapped up its 62nd Directing Council meeting, held in Washington, D.C., marking the beginning of a new chapter for public health in the Americas. Over four days, ministers of health and high-level delegates from across the region discussed 43 agenda items, reviewed progress reports, and approved nine major resolutions that will shape regional health priorities for years to come.
At the heart of this gathering was the approval of the PAHO Strategic Plan 2026–2031 (SP26–31)—a forward-looking roadmap designed to strengthen health systems, tackle noncommunicable diseases, improve access to critical technologies, and prepare nations to better handle future health emergencies.
The Strategic Plan 2026–2031: A Blueprint for the Next Six Years
PAHO’s new strategic plan is more than just a policy framework—it’s a practical action guide that aligns regional and global health goals. It connects with the Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2018–2030 (SHAA2030) and the World Health Organization’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work (2025–2028).
The plan was shaped through a multi-phase, consultative process involving Member States, technical experts, and civil society representatives. This process ran from March 2024 to September 2025, allowing governments to provide input on draft versions, indicators, and regional priorities before the final approval during the 62nd Directing Council.
The Strategic Plan 2026–2031 is built around five core objectives:
- Accelerate health for all: Addressing the social and environmental factors that influence health outcomes and reducing health inequities.
- Build resilient health systems: Strengthening universal access and universal health coverage, with a focus on primary health care as the backbone of national health systems.
- Eliminate and control diseases: Expanding prevention and treatment for communicable and noncommunicable diseases, as well as mental health conditions.
- Enhance emergency preparedness: Improving the ability to prevent, detect, and respond to health emergencies, pandemics, and natural disasters.
- Strengthen PAHO’s governance and impact: Ensuring that the organization’s technical cooperation is more measurable, efficient, and results-oriented.
To achieve these goals, PAHO is introducing a streamlined results framework with fewer, clearer indicators. The plan also integrates “accelerators”—key interventions designed to maximize cross-cutting impacts across health systems, disease prevention, and social determinants of health.
Key Resolutions Adopted During the Council
Delegates approved nine resolutions, each addressing pressing health concerns in the Americas. Two stand out for their regional importance:
1. Expanding Access to High-Cost Health Technologies
PAHO introduced a new regional policy to make high-cost and high-price health technologies more accessible. This policy aims to combat the sharp disparities in access and pricing that exist across the region—where, in some cases, medicine prices can differ by 45 times between countries and by over 400% among suppliers within the same nation.
The policy lays out five strategic lines of action:
- Boost regional innovation and production of health technologies.
- Improve evaluation and selection processes to ensure efficient resource use.
- Reinforce regulatory frameworks and encourage fair market competition.
- Expand the use of PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds, which pool procurement across countries to lower prices.
- Promote evidence-based decision-making and transparency in health spending.
Developed through consultations with 28 Member States, this initiative reflects a regional consensus on the need for affordable medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics—particularly in low- and middle-income nations where healthcare budgets are stretched thin.
2. Plan of Action for Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Control (2025–2030)
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) remain the leading cause of death in the Americas, driven by lifestyle-related factors such as tobacco use, poor diet, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption.
The new Plan of Action focuses on integrating NCD management into primary health care, ensuring that prevention, screening, and treatment services reach people where they live. The plan also encourages community-level interventions, promoting healthier diets, physical activity, and early detection of chronic conditions.
Focus on Innovation and Regional Cooperation
Beyond the policy discussions, the Directing Council showcased innovations and regional partnerships that demonstrate how cooperation can make health systems more equitable and effective.
The Power of Regional Revolving Funds
PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds—used to pool procurement for vaccines and other essential health supplies—were a key highlight. These funds now support regional vaccine production, the development of molecular testing kits for cervical cancer, and improved access to cutting-edge health technologies.
The expansion of these funds not only ensures fair pricing and timely access, but also strengthens regional manufacturing capacity, reducing dependency on global supply chains.
Strengthening Health Security and Emergency Preparedness
The Council emphasized the urgent need to strengthen health security systems. Each year, the Americas face around 2.4 million public health signals, and nearly half are classified as acute threats.
Member States agreed that building resilient, responsive systems—including disease surveillance, early detection, and emergency logistics—is vital to protect both populations and economies. The call for multisectoral collaboration was clear: governments, the private sector, and communities must all play a role in preparedness.
Recognizing Innovation and Service
The Council also honored several contributions to health progress. Notably, Peruvian psychiatrist Dr. July Esther Caballero Peralta received the PAHO Award for Health Services Management and Leadership 2025 for her efforts to expand mental health services in underserved communities.
A sculpture honoring health workers across the Americas was unveiled—symbolizing their resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed over three million lives in the region.
Partnerships Strengthening Health Systems
During the event, PAHO announced new collaborations to support the implementation of its strategies.
- A framework agreement with the Mérieux Foundation USA will enhance laboratory systems, disease surveillance, and antimicrobial resistance tracking.
- A partnership with UNITE, a global network of parliamentarians, will focus on developing evidence-based health legislation across the Americas.
These partnerships reflect PAHO’s belief that achieving sustainable progress requires not just government action but regional and international cooperation.
Persistent Challenges Ahead
Despite these advances, the Council recognized that major challenges persist:
- Equity gaps in access to care remain wide, especially for vulnerable populations.
- Fragmented health systems make it difficult to coordinate services effectively.
- Noncommunicable diseases continue to overwhelm healthcare budgets.
- Data limitations and weak regulatory capacity hinder evidence-based policymaking.
To tackle these, the new strategic plan emphasizes integration, resilience, and data-driven accountability. By aligning efforts across countries, PAHO hopes to reduce health inequalities and improve long-term sustainability.
Why This Plan Matters
The Strategic Plan 2026–2031 represents a crucial opportunity for countries in the Americas to reimagine public health cooperation in a post-pandemic era. It acknowledges that the path to healthier societies requires strong, equitable systems that can withstand future shocks—be they epidemics, economic crises, or climate-related disasters.
By streamlining priorities, improving accountability, and focusing on measurable outcomes, the plan aims to deliver tangible improvements in health access and quality. The nine resolutions adopted provide the operational backbone to achieve these ambitions—especially the focus on affordable health technologies and noncommunicable disease control.
If implemented effectively, the Strategic Plan could help transform the region’s approach to public health—moving from reactive crisis management to proactive, resilient, and equitable care.
Understanding PAHO and Its Role
The Pan American Health Organization, founded in 1902, is the world’s oldest international public health agency. It serves as the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for the Americas, covering 35 Member States. PAHO’s work spans disease prevention, health system strengthening, vaccination programs, emergency preparedness, and promotion of universal health coverage.
Through decades of work, PAHO has been instrumental in eradicating smallpox and eliminating measles and rubella in the Americas, and continues to lead efforts against emerging threats like dengue, malaria, and COVID-19.
The new 2026–2031 Strategic Plan builds on this legacy, adapting to modern challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and aging populations. It reflects the understanding that public health in the 21st century depends not only on medicine and policy but on solidarity, shared data, and collective responsibility.
Research Reference:
Pan American Health Organization – PAHO Strategic Plan 2026–2031 (Official Source)
