Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted health, life, livelihoods, and conditions for development in the Region of the Americas. It has exposed, exacerbated, and created structural challenges for health systems, affecting their response capacity and resulting in public health. To address these challenges, in 2021, PAHO Member States adopted the “Strategy for Building Resilient Health Systems and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery to Sustain and Protect Public Health Gains” and requested that the Organization provide technical cooperation to Member States to strengthen capacities and promote regional cooperation and dialogue and the sharing of knowledge and experiences.
The resolution approved by the States emphasizes the need to transform health systems based on a primary health care approach (PHC)[1]; to strengthen leadership, stewardship, and governance through a renewed focus on the essential public health functions (EPHF); to strengthen capacities of health service delivery networks to expand access, and to increase and sustain public financing in health and social protection. In this way, the resolution provides a framework to address these challenges while encouraging Member States to renew their commitment to the recommendations of the High-Level Commission “Universal Health in the 21st Century: 40 Years of Alma-Ata”[2] and the 30-30-30 Compact: Primary Health Care for Universal Health[3].
Several regional experiences, tools, and lessons have emerged about these four strategic aspects for transforming health systems. To facilitate exchange and respond to the mandate received from the countries, PAHO presents a series of virtual seminars that will take place between August and December 2022.
Social participation: a key element in health systems strengthening and transformation
November, 11, 2022
Universal Health Day 2022
Build the world we want: a healthy future for all
High-Level meeting
Monday, December 12, 10:00 a.m. (EST)
Universal Health in the 21st Century: 40 Years of Alma-Ata.” Report of the High-Level Commission. Revised edition. Washington, D.C.: PAHO; 2019
PHC 30-30-30, PAHO’s Regional Compact on Primary Health Care for Universal Health. Washington, D.C.: PAHO; 2019.