Washington, D.C., March 17, 2026 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and ParlAmericas have signed a Framework Agreement for Technical Cooperation to strengthen the legislative agenda on health challenges and priorities across the Americas.
The agreement, signed by Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO, and Chilean Senator Ivan Flores García, President of ParlAmericas, formalizes an ongoing technical dialogue between the two organizations to promote evidence-based knowledge exchange, build capacity among parliamentarians, and create collaborative spaces for discussing and advancing public health policies.
“Parliaments play a critical role in shaping the policies that determine people’s health and well-being,” said Dr. Barbosa during the signing of the agreement at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS). “Through this partnership, we are strengthening legislative knowledge and capacity to ensure that decisions affecting millions are informed by science and evidence.”
“This Framework Agreement strengthens collaboration between PAHO and parliaments across the Americas and the Caribbean,” said Senator Flores García. “It will help expand dialogue between legislators and public health experts and support evidence-based legislative action on the region’s most pressing health challenges, which rank among the foremost needs of our hemispheric community.”
Both institutions emphasized that the collaboration aims to strengthen legislative frameworks in areas such as health security, climate change, migration, and gender equality, while reinforcing democratic governance and inclusive, evidence-informed decision-making.
The agreement supports the commitments of both organizations within the Inter-American System to promote health equity, democracy, and regional cooperation.
About PAHO
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) works with the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of its population. Founded in 1902, it is the world’s oldest international public health agency. It serves as the Regional Office of WHO for the Americas and is the specialized health agency of the Inter-American system (OAS).
About ParlAmericas
ParlAmericas is an inter-parliamentary organization that promotes the participation of parliaments in the InterAmerican System, with a mission to strengthen parliamentary engagement in multilateral spaces, foster cooperative political dialogue and collaboration among parliaments on hemispheric issues, and support legislatures in fulfilling their democratic functions in service of all people throughout the Region of the Americas and the Caribbean. ParlAmericas is composed of the national legislatures of the 35 independent states of the Western Hemisphere.
