Washington, D.C., 23 April 2026 (PAHO)— The Network on Essential Public Health Functions (known in Spanish as RedFESP) has made progress in the development of a regional document aimed at strengthening the institutionalization of Essential Public Health Functions (EPHF) in the Americas, following the initial validation of a standardized template that will enable the collection of national and subnational experiences.
This instrument, structured in eight key sections, represents the first concrete output of the process and will serve as the basis for developing evidence-based regional recommendations. The document will systematize information on institutional arrangements, governance mechanisms, the use of results for continuous improvement, as well as good practices, barriers, and lessons learned across countries. It aims to identify best practices and generate guidance to support the sustainability of evaluation processes as an integral part of public health management, with the goal of consolidating it as a regional public good.
Progress was made during a virtual meeting of RedFESP, which brought together representatives from Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay, with technical support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in its role as the Network’s Technical Secretariat.
The process seeks to support countries in transitioning from one-off assessments to the institutionalization of permanent evaluation and continuous improvement mechanisms, integrated into the governance of health systems.
As next steps, countries agreed to complete the template during May 2026, which will allow for the consolidation of information at the regional level and further progress in developing the regional document.
Established in 2025, RedFESP promotes technical cooperation among countries to strengthen stewardship and governance in public health through the development of common tools, the exchange of experiences, and the strengthening of institutional capacities.
