Washington, D.C., December 3, 2025 — The Network on Essential Public Health Functions for strengthening stewardship and governance (RedFESP), established in September 2025 with the technical support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), held its second virtual meeting to advance the development of the 2026 work plan. Institutions from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay participated.
The meeting was opened by the Technical Secretariat, exercised by PAHO, which presented the general framework, mandates, and proposed strategic lines to guide next year’s work, underscoring their coherence with national processes for evaluating and strengthening Essential Public Health Functions (EPHF). Subsequently, the delegation of Mexico, in its role as President of the RedFESP Steering Committee, presented a proposed work plan structured around three components: institutionalization of EPHF evaluation and continuous improvement; strengthening governance mechanisms; and positioning, technical exchange, and sustainability of the Network.
Participating institutions discussed the plan’s activities, deliverables, timelines, and responsibilities, and identified opportunities to form component-based working groups. The exchange made it possible to refine priorities, strengthen evaluation tools, consolidate governance frameworks, and promote cooperation mechanisms that reinforce the EPHF within health systems.
Among the main agreements, RedFESP members validated the proposed adjustments to the work plan, defined responsibilities, and established the agenda for technical follow-up over the coming year. They also agreed to continue working through technical meetings and Steering Committee sessions to finalize the document and organize the working groups that will develop the planned actions.
PAHO reaffirmed its support for RedFESP’s work, as the Network continues to consolidate itself as a regional cooperation platform to strengthen stewardship, governance, and the institutionalization of the EPHF, contributing to more responsive health systems that better meet population needs.
Find more information about the Network here: https://www.paho.org/en/network-essential-public-health-functions-ephf
