PAHO Launches New “Best Buys” Tool to Accelerate Disease Elimination Across the Americas
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has rolled out a powerful new technical tool designed to speed up the elimination of over 30 communicable diseases and related conditions across the Americas. This announcement took place during the 62nd Directing Council of PAHO in Washington D.C., where officials unveiled the initiative as part of the broader Disease Elimination Initiative, aiming for complete eradication of these diseases by 2030.
The new tool, titled “Best Buys for Disease Elimination,” serves as an evidence-based guide that identifies the most efficient and cost-effective interventions for tackling a wide range of diseases. It is built on one core principle: to help countries make smart use of resources while focusing on populations in vulnerable situations—from those living in informal settlements to incarcerated individuals and marginalized communities.
What Exactly Are “Best Buys”?
Each Best Buy is a concise, one-page document providing a straightforward roadmap for action. Every page contains:
- Impact Goals – the overall health improvements expected from specific interventions.
- Elimination Targets – measurable objectives defining what successful elimination looks like.
- Operational Indicators – benchmarks to track real-world progress.
- Priority Interventions – the most effective, proven actions countries can take.
The idea is to make complex health goals clear, practical, and actionable. Whether it’s fighting tuberculosis, malaria, or cervical cancer, the Best Buys offer a unified playbook to help health authorities prioritize efforts and allocate resources wisely.
These documents are meant for a diverse audience—policy-makers, technical teams, health workers, program managers, donors, and international partners—ensuring everyone involved in public health efforts is aligned and well-informed.
Diseases Targeted for Elimination
PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative doesn’t focus on just one or two conditions—it’s an ambitious plan targeting over 30 diseases and health conditions. These include:
- Vaccine-preventable diseases such as rubella, measles, and polio.
- Neglected tropical and zoonotic diseases like leprosy, Chagas disease, and schistosomiasis.
- Vector-borne diseases including malaria, dengue, and yellow fever.
- Sexually transmitted infections such as HIV and syphilis.
- Other key conditions like cervical cancer and tuberculosis.
This broad approach reflects PAHO’s belief that public health systems work best when diseases are tackled collectively rather than in isolation.
The Malaria Example
One of the clearest examples of how the Best Buys work comes from the malaria elimination strategy. The elimination target is defined as zero new indigenous cases for three consecutive years. To reach that milestone, countries are encouraged to:
- Keep test positivity rates below 5%.
- Ensure that at least 70% of cases are diagnosed and treated within 72 hours of symptom onset.
- Guarantee that 80% or more of all cases are properly investigated and classified, especially in regions close to achieving elimination or at risk of reintroduction.
The recommended actions—also known as “Best Buys” for malaria—include expanding access to rapid diagnostic tests, improving timely treatment across all levels of care, and engaging local communities in early detection. PAHO also highlights the importance of distributing insecticide-treated nets for free, strengthening surveillance systems to detect imported cases, and using microplanning to maintain malaria-free areas.
Real-World Success: Suriname’s Milestone
During the launch event, Suriname was recognized for its achievement in eliminating malaria transmission, becoming the first country in the Amazon region to reach this goal. This milestone demonstrates that disease elimination is not theoretical—it’s possible with sustained commitment, strong public health systems, and community involvement.
Delegates from Guyana, Paraguay, and Suriname also shared their firsthand experiences of implementing the Best Buys approach. Their stories illustrated how integrated care, community engagement, and intersectoral partnerships can make a measurable difference in public health outcomes.
The Bigger Picture: PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative
The Disease Elimination Initiative, launched by PAHO in 2019, serves as the overarching framework guiding these efforts. It seeks to integrate disease programs that were once handled separately, creating synergy and sustainability across public health strategies.
This approach emphasizes:
- High vaccination coverage to prevent reemergence of diseases.
- Community engagement to ensure access to testing and treatment.
- Robust disease surveillance for rapid detection and response.
- Integrated service delivery targeting underserved and hard-to-reach populations.
By bringing together disease control efforts under a unified structure, PAHO aims to build resilient health systems capable of maintaining progress even after diseases are eliminated.
Strengthening Health Systems for the Future
The introduction of the Best Buys tool coincides with PAHO’s Strategic Plan 2026–2031, which reinforces the goal of accelerating health progress throughout the Americas. The plan includes strengthening primary health care systems, improving access to essential medicines, and building capacity for early warning and response to emerging health threats.
Recent PAHO initiatives—like launching new guides to combat vaccine misinformation—also tie directly into these goals, ensuring that accurate, science-based information reaches communities and builds trust in public health institutions.
Why the “Best Buys” Approach Matters
Many countries face limited resources and competing health priorities. The Best Buys tool helps decision-makers focus on interventions with the greatest impact per dollar spent. This evidence-based approach is crucial for sustainable progress, especially in lower-income or remote areas where every resource counts.
Another key advantage is adaptability. The Best Buys are not rigid prescriptions; they can be tailored to each country’s context, epidemiological situation, and infrastructure capacity. This flexibility allows governments to adopt the framework without overhauling existing health systems.
Beyond the Americas: A Global Ripple Effect
Although the Best Buys tool is designed for the Americas, its potential extends far beyond the region. The model could inspire other WHO regions to create similar frameworks—encouraging global collaboration, knowledge exchange, and faster progress toward universal disease elimination.
Historically, the Americas have been at the forefront of major health victories—smallpox, polio, and rubella were all eliminated through regional cooperation and sustained commitment. The Best Buys initiative continues that legacy by providing the tools and knowledge needed to finish what decades of public health work began.
A Closer Look: Some Key Diseases in Focus
1. Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer death among women in the Americas, despite being preventable. The Best Buys recommend expanding HPV vaccination, improving access to screening and treatment for pre-cancerous lesions, and ensuring the availability of HPV tests and medical supplies.
2. Tuberculosis (TB)
TB elimination strategies emphasize early detection, directly observed treatment, and the integration of care services for co-infections such as HIV. Strengthening laboratory networks and surveillance systems is also highlighted as a top priority.
3. Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
Diseases like Chagas disease, lymphatic filariasis, and leprosy are included in the Best Buys compendium. The recommended strategies focus on mass drug administration, vector control, and community education to ensure sustained progress.
4. Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Sustaining high immunization rates remains a top regional goal. The Best Buys stress ensuring that vaccines reach all communities—including those in remote areas—and addressing misinformation that threatens vaccine confidence.
What Comes Next
The launch of the Best Buys tool marks a major step forward for health in the Americas. But as PAHO officials have emphasized, tools alone are not enough—it will take ongoing political will, community participation, and sustained investment to achieve true elimination.
Still, the early results are promising. With countries like Suriname already proving success is possible, the momentum is building. The combination of clear targets, cost-effective actions, and regional collaboration could make the 2030 elimination goal more achievable than ever before.
For now, the Best Buys tool offers a practical, data-driven path to make health equity a reality—and that’s something worth paying attention to.
Research Source:
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) – Best Buys to Accelerate Disease Elimination in the Americas (2025)
