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National Health Funds Network of the Americas (REFSA)

A regional cooperation space to strengthen management, equity, and financial sustainability in health

The National Health Funds Network of the Americas (REFSA) is an initiative led by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) that brings together public institutions responsible for national health funds and actors committed to regional cooperation. It is a technical and strategic space for exchanging experiences, innovating, and strengthening capacities in the financial management of health systems, promoting equity, transparency, and universal access.

REFSA was created to respond to common challenges in the Region:
decentralization of resources, efficient management, technological innovation, transparency, and financial sustainability. It was inspired by exchanges among countries and strengthened through meetings facilitated by PAHO.

WHAT DOES REFSA FACILITATE?
  • Technical and political dialogue among authorities and key stakeholders.
  • Seminars, workshops, and working groups to strengthen capacities.
  • Regional repositories with good practices, tools, and studies.
  • Bilateral, subregional, and regional alliances for joint purchasing and cooperation.
  • Platforms that promote transparency, accountability, and technological innovation.
WHAT ARE ITS OBJECTIVES?
  • Exchange experiences and good practices in the management of national health funds.
  • Create regional public goods and shared tools.
  • Promote technological innovation and digitalization.
  • Strengthen transparency and accountability.
  • Promote equitable and sustainable access to health services.
  • Optimize and diversify financing sources.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
  • National health funds and public institutions responsible for their management.
  • Entities that promote regional cooperation in health.
  • Observers invited by the governing bodies.
HOW IS REFSA ORGANIZED?
  • General Assembly: composed of all members.
  • Steering Committee: elected by the Assembly to coordinate activities.
  • Technical Secretariat: carried out by PAHO.
  • Technical Committees: thematic groups to advance strategic priorities.

WHY JOIN?

Joining REFSA means becoming part of a collective effort to transform the management of national health funds, with technical support, regional visibility, and solidarity-based cooperation to address common challenges.

HOW TO JOIN?

Institutions interested in joining must submit their application to the PAHO Technical Secretariat refsa@paho.org
After the evaluation, the Technical Secretariat confirms the membership and provides guidance on the next steps.

MORE INFORMATION
 refsa@paho.org