PAHO Calls for Stronger Cooperation in Health Financing and Security Across the Americas

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is pushing for stronger cooperation between governments, financial institutions, and the private sector to strengthen health security and sustainable financing across Latin America and the Caribbean. This initiative, led by Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO, was a major focus during recent meetings held on the sidelines of the 62nd PAHO Directing Council in Washington, D.C., at the beginning of October 2025.

At a high-level dinner hosted by the Council of the Americas (COA), Dr. Barbosa met with healthcare leaders from Argentina, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Panama, along with members of COA’s Healthcare Series leadership group. The message was clear — the Americas need to place health at the heart of their regional agenda, not only as a moral imperative but also as a key driver of economic growth and security. This push for collaboration comes ahead of the Summit of the Americas, which will be held in the Dominican Republic in December 2025.

Why Health Financing and Security Matter More Than Ever

Dr. Barbosa emphasized that the region has a unique opportunity to reframe health as a strategic investment, not an expense. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) — such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer — are placing enormous pressure on health systems and national budgets. They also weaken the workforce, reduce productivity, and ultimately affect economic stability.

By advocating for sustained financing, cross-sector partnerships, and innovation, PAHO hopes to create a resilient framework that allows countries to provide continuous and equitable care. This means more robust health systems, better access to medicine and technology, and quicker responses to public health emergencies.

Members of the Council of the Americas expressed support for this agenda, signaling a strong willingness from the private sector to collaborate with PAHO in improving policy design, funding strategies, and the delivery of healthcare across the hemisphere.

The meeting highlighted the growing recognition that public-private partnerships are essential to tackle the deep-rooted challenges in the region — from fragile infrastructure to unequal access to healthcare.

Key Developments from the 62nd PAHO Directing Council

During the 62nd Directing Council, which took place from late September to early October 2025, PAHO’s leadership and member states adopted a series of strategic actions that will shape regional health for the next decade.

Among the most significant decisions were:

Approval of PAHO’s Strategic Plan 2026–2031, setting out a vision for advancing universal health coverage, strengthening emergency preparedness, and improving equity.
Adoption of a new Plan of Action on Noncommunicable Diseases (2025–2030), targeting risk factors, early detection, and affordable treatment access.
A resolution to expand access to high-cost health technologies, including innovative medicines and diagnostics, through regional regulatory reform, pooled procurement systems, and shared innovation frameworks.

Dr. Barbosa stressed that these measures are designed to reduce regional dependency on external suppliers while promoting local production and technology transfer — essential steps toward greater self-sufficiency in vaccine and medicine manufacturing.

Health Security: A Cornerstone of Regional Stability

In his remarks at the Directing Council, Dr. Barbosa called for swift action to enhance health security across the Americas. Over 2.4 million public health signals are analyzed each year, and more than 160 health events were detected recently — with nearly half considered acute threats. These include outbreaks, natural disasters, and emergencies that directly affect communities and economies alike.

PAHO’s health security framework centers on early detection, rapid response, and cooperation among member states. The organization is working to ensure that each country develops resilient health systems capable of withstanding crises — from infectious diseases to hurricanes and climate-related disasters.

Progress and Challenges Highlighted in PAHO’s Annual Report

Dr. Barbosa presented his Annual Report (July 2024 – June 2025), outlining major achievements and ongoing challenges in the region:

Emergency response: PAHO coordinated over 38 health emergencies, addressing crises like dengue, mpox, and avian influenza, while also supporting recovery after natural disasters such as Hurricane Beryl.
Medical supply delivery: More than 25 tons of essential health supplies were delivered to 23 countries, including 14.5 tons to Haiti, which continues to struggle with cholera and infrastructure breakdowns.
Surveillance and intelligence: The organization monitored 2.7 million health signals, generating 1,800 critical intelligence reports and 1,900 early warnings to guide national responses.
Disease elimination milestones:
- The Americas regained measles-free status, with Brazil officially reverified in 2024.
- Suriname was certified malaria-free in June 2025.
- Brazil successfully eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem.
- New verification requests were submitted — Brazil for mother-to-child HIV transmission elimination and Chile for leprosy elimination.

Tackling NCDs and Strengthening Primary Care

PAHO’s “Better Care for NCDs” initiative, integrated with the HEARTS strategy, has expanded to more than 7,000 primary care centers across 26 countries. This initiative helps improve hypertension control, diabetes management, and preventive care at the community level.

Collaboration with global institutions like the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has resulted in significant investments in integrated health services. For example, a US$120 million project in El Salvador is scaling up quality primary healthcare to ensure that even remote areas have consistent access to doctors, diagnostics, and essential medicines.

Building Regional Capacity and Innovation

PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds remain a cornerstone for equitable access to vaccines and medicines. In the last year alone, they facilitated the procurement of 159 million vaccine doses, 9 million diagnostic tests, and 3.5 million treatment courses.

Local manufacturing initiatives are gaining traction:

Argentina is now producing the PCV20 pneumococcal vaccine through technology transfer agreements.
mRNA vaccine development projects in Argentina and Brazil are progressing steadily, positioning the region as a potential hub for future vaccine innovation.
The High-Cost Medicines Initiative is expanding access to treatments for cancer, multiple sclerosis, and rare diseases, addressing the challenge of affordability and accessibility.

Workforce Development and Institutional Transformation

One of PAHO’s biggest concerns is the projected shortfall of 600,000 health professionals by 2030 in the Americas. To address this, PAHO is investing heavily in training and education through its Virtual Campus for Public Health, which now engages over 1 million new users.

The organization’s internal reform project, PAHO Forward, has also helped generate over US$3 million in new revenue and reduced financial risks, while expanding partnerships — 51 new cooperation agreements and 22 joint strategies were adopted in the past year alone.

Strengthening Regional Cooperation

Recent agreements highlight PAHO’s commitment to regional collaboration:

A Country Cooperation Strategy (2026–2028) was signed with Haiti to strengthen its health system amid ongoing humanitarian challenges.
PAHO and the Andean Health Organization (ORAS-CONHU) renewed their memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation and harmonize health policies across the Andean region.

Health as a Security and Economic Priority

The message emerging from these developments is that health is inseparable from economic security. Diseases, natural disasters, and weak health systems can destabilize entire nations. Conversely, when governments and private entities invest together in public health, the results can be transformative — stronger markets, healthier populations, and long-term prosperity.

As the Summit of the Americas approaches, the call from PAHO is clear: health must not remain a background issue. It should be a central part of regional policymaking, with shared commitments and collective action ensuring that progress is not lost when crises arise.

The Bigger Picture: Why Regional Health Cooperation Matters

PAHO’s renewed focus reflects a broader global trend — the shift toward health security as a pillar of development. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of fragmented systems. Strengthening regional cooperation is now seen as a matter of national interest, not just solidarity.

For Latin America and the Caribbean, this means creating sustainable models that combine public trust, private innovation, and long-term financing. It’s not just about hospitals and vaccines — it’s about ensuring that health remains a driver of equality, productivity, and stability for generations to come.

Research Source: Pan American Health Organization – 62nd Directing Council and related releases (September–October 2025)