Madrid, November 5, 2026 (PAHO) – The Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, called for health to be placed among the political and diplomatic priorities of Ibero-America during a series of high-level meetings held in Madrid on the sidelines of the XXX Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government.
During the High-Level Political Dialogue with Ibero-American Foreign Ministers, held on November 3, Dr. Barbosa called for stronger investment and partnerships in health, highlighting their contribution to stability, economic development, and the well-being of populations. “Health is no longer an issue exclusively for ministries of health. It is now a priority for foreign policy, security, and development,” he said.
Speaking to foreign ministers and representatives of the 22 countries that make up the Ibero-American Community, the PAHO Director also stressed the need to follow through on the commitments made at the XVII Ibero-American Conference of Ministers of Health, held in May 2026. These include emergency preparedness, equitable access to health technologies, mental health, and strengthening the health workforce. He also highlighted PAHO’s cooperation with the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) and Ibero-American health networks to advance joint initiatives on disease elimination, access to medicines, and capacity-building.
New partnerships to strengthen health cooperation
As part of its agenda in Madrid, PAHO and the Mundo Sano Foundation co-hosted the high-level dialogue “Global Health on the Ibero-American Agenda: Cooperation, Coordination, and Success Stories” at Casa de América. The event brought together representatives of governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society to explore opportunities to expand Ibero-American cooperation initiatives, including the “No Baby with Chagas” program and the Ibero-American Disability Program.
The PAHO Director also signed a cooperation agreement with Grupo Social ONCE to improve access to health services and remove barriers faced by people with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean, in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
PAHO and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) also signed a declaration of intent to work toward a new cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening health systems. The proposed collaboration includes initiatives in maternal and child health, the elimination of communicable diseases, immunization, epidemiological surveillance, and health emergency preparedness and response.
Through these meetings and agreements, PAHO aims to strengthen cooperation with countries, SEGIB, and international partners, and help translate political commitments into tangible health improvements for people across the Americas.
