Washington, D.C., August 28, 2025 – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) convened a virtual meeting attended by more than 140 stakeholders to address persistent challenges in accessing essential mental health medicines across Latin America and the Caribbean. The event focused on fostering regional collaboration and identifying actionable strategies to improve the availability of medicines, particularly at the primary health care level.
Access to high-quality mental health medicines has remained a persistent challenge for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. PAHO's reviews conducted in 2017 and 2020 had already identified critical barriers, including data limitations and procurement inefficiencies, which continued to hinder national efforts. In response, a regional survey was carried out in 2024 by PAHO's Mental Health and Substance Use Unit from the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH), the Regional Revolving Funds (RRF), and the Department of Innovation, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies (IMT) in collaboration with Country Offices (COs).
The meeting presented the findings of this assessment, which examined the inclusion of mental health medicines in National Essential Medicines Lists (NEMLs), their availability at the primary care level, and explored opportunities to scale up the use of the PAHO Strategic Fund.
The survey revealed a range of barriers affecting access. Many countries reported that essential psychotropic medications were either not included in national formularies or were not consistently available at the primary care level. High costs of key medicines, including antipsychotics and treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) such as Methylphenidate, were identified as major barriers. Stigma around mental health, poor planning, procurement delays, and supply disruptions were also cited.
Additionally, significant gaps in workforce training were highlighted. A majority of respondents estimated that fewer than half of primary care staff had received training to prescribe medicines for and manage mental health conditions in the previous year.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from countries of the Americas to strengthen equitable access to mental health treatment. The data, insights, and recommendations gathered will inform a regional roadmap aimed at improving access by 2026. PAHO will continue working closely with countries to promote integrated, affordable, and people-centered approaches to mental health care across all levels of the health system.
PAHO’s Revolving Funds
PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds are mechanisms for technical cooperation that allow countries in the Americas to access quality vaccines, essential medicines, and public health supplies at affordable prices. By pooling purchases and planning demand, they have achieved significant savings, benefiting over 180 million people in the Region in the past two years.
The 2024 survey found ongoing barriers in the availability, affordability, quality, and supply chain management of mental health medicines, which limit access at the primary health care level. To address these issues, the Strategic Fund has included a priority list of mental health medicines in its portfolio —such as those for epilepsy and bipolar disorder—enabling countries to save up to 50% on procurement costs.
Beyond pooled procurement, the Funds also provide tailored technical cooperation through tools like PAHO QuantMET and support from the supply chain management team to enhance national capacities in quantification, demand planning, and logistics. By combining lower prices with stronger supply systems, PAHO’s Strategic Fund offers a strategic solution to the barriers identified, ensuring a more reliable supply of quality-assured medicines and continuous care for those who need it most.
