Stories published in PAHO's 2020 and 2021 Strategic Fund annual reports
Argentina*
The Strategic Fund has been fundamental to ensuring the availability of medicines and strategic public health supplies for Argentina’s Ministry of Health. The country has increased and diversified acquisitions in recent years, including medicines for hepatitis C, immunosuppressants, antiretrovirals, and antituberculosis medications. In 2020, the Strategic Fund’s technical cooperation in managing the supply of rapid diagnostic kits for COVID-19 and PPE was particularly critical.
Following dramatic increases in previous years in purchases of HIV and tuberculosis medicines, Argentina notably expanded into new types of products in 2020, including rapid diagnostic tests and PPEs to contribute to the COVID-19 response. Equally symbolic was the acquisition of second-line antibiotics and other lab equipment such as respirators.
The support of the technical and administrative staff of the PAHO Argentina Country Office was crucial to achieving these milestones. Despite intense global and national restrictions regarding international cargo transport and land mobility, all needed supplies were delivered in a timely manner to mitigate the effects caused by the pandemic. Additionally, a noteworthy initiative developed with the National Regulatory Authority guaranteed that all essential supplies complied with the country’s regulations. Finally, through joint work between PAHO through its Strategic Fund, the PAHO Country Office, and the Ministry of Health successfully completed demand consolidation of crucial products required in 2021, strengthening its planning and acquisition process.
Source: Strategic Fund Annual Report 2020. Ensuring Access to Essential Medicines and Public Health Supplies while Supporting the COVID-19 Response. PAHO/HSS/SF/21-0007
Brazil*
The PAHO Strategic Fund has supported the Brazilian government since 2001 in purchasing quality-assured medicines and supplies for malaria, leishmaniasis, tuberculosis, HIV and Chagas disease programs, as well as anthelmintics and insecticides.
In 2021, given the challenging context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shortage of medications for orotracheal intubation in the Brazilian market, the Strategic Fund also supported the Ministry of Health (MoH) in purchasing these medications.
To better support Brazil during this emergency, a Task Force was coordinated by the PAHO Office in Brazil, with the participation of the MoH and Anvisa, to quickly guarantee and comply with the technical, regulatory, and administrative requirements, and to ensure the supply of medicines to fight the disease. The creation of this working group facilitated the communication between the three entities to participate in procurement processes, eliminating bottlenecks and promoting access to medicines to meet the population’s needs During this period, approximately 23 million units of 17 orotracheal intubation medicines were procured, totaling an investment of US$ 76 million, which were distributed to all the states in partnership with the National Council of Health Secretaries (CONASS) and the National Council of Municipal Health Secretariats (CONASEMS). Regarding the medicines acquired by the Strategic Fund, in 2021, 110.5 million units of medications and insecticides, totaling US$ 64 million, were delivered to treat leishmaniasis, tuberculosis, HIV, Chagas disease, and helminths. These medicines and health supplies were not previously registered or marketed in Brazilian territory.
The technical and administrative work of the PAHO Office in Brazil, together with colleagues based at headquarters in Washington, D.C., as well as the partnership established with the MoH and Anvisa, were of great importance in reaching the results presented.
*Source: Strategic Fund Annual Report 2021: Prioritizing Access to Medicines and Supplies for Health Security and Universal Health PAHO/HSS/SF/22-0020
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela*
In the framework of a collaborative inter-agency effort between PAHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the second phase of the Master Plan for Strengthening the HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Response was launched in Venezuela in coordination with civil society organizations and the Venezuela Ministry of Health. As part of this initiative, the PAHO Strategic Fund played a fundamental role in the supply of antiretrovirals, antituberculosis medicines, antimalarials, and supplies for the diagnosis and monitoring of populations affected by these diseases. The Strategic Fund also supported the acquisition of approximately US$8.5 million in PPE, supplies, and diagnostic equipment to respond to the emergency needs during COVID-19.
The Strategic Fund worked interprogrammatically with other PAHO units to provide vital technical cooperation in planning demand, managing procurement, and delivering products in a timely, efficient, and comprehensive manner. Finally, through joint work between the Strategic Fund and the country office, the Ministry of Health successfully completed demand consolidation of crucial products required in 2021, strengthening its planning and acquisition process.
Source: Strategic Fund Annual Report 2020. Ensuring Access to Essential Medicines and Public Health Supplies while Supporting the COVID-19 Response. PAHO/HSS/SF/21-0007
Colombia*
With the support of the PAHO Strategic Fund, the Colombian Ministry of Health and Social Protection acquired medicines valued at over US$ 7 million, which has supported the treatment of over 2 million people with vectorborne diseases such as malaria, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease. In addition, Colombia has been able to maintain its commitment to strengthening the control and elimination of Hepatitis C. This work has made progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); through collaboration with the Strategic Fund, more than US$ 4 million in medicines have been purchased, which has enabled coverage to be extended to more than 1,000 people with Hepatitis C.
*Source: Strategic Fund Annual Report 2021: Prioritizing Access to Medicines and Supplies for Health Security and Universal Health PAHO/HSS/SF/22-0020
Dominican Republic*
During 2020, as part of the Dominican Republic’s preparation and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in accordance with the nine strategic pillars of its national contingency plan based on PAHO/WHO recommendations, the Strategic Fund rapidly supported the Ministry of Public Health in securing approximately US$3.8 million worth of COVID-19 diagnostic kits. This included PCR test accessories and rapid test kits for the detection of antigens.
The Strategic Fund’s timely response addressed the emergency, ensuring that health technologies met quality standards, were offered at affordable prices, and were delivered efficiently given challenges to global transportation caused by the high demand for supplies and equipment during COVID-19. The country availed the use of a credit line to facilitate rapid procurement, in response to the operational support actions and logistical aspects corresponding to Pillar 8 of the Strategic Response Plan to COVID-19
Source: Strategic Fund Annual Report 2020. Ensuring Access to Essential Medicines and Public Health Supplies while Supporting the COVID-19 Response. PAHO/HSS/SF/21-0007
Ecuador*
In 2021, the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) of Ecuador and the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security (IESS) tripled their purchases through the PAHO Strategic Fund, benefiting more than 1.2 million people in the priority areas of HIV, tuberculosis, NTDs, and COVID-19. The Strategic Fund facilitated the acquisition of more than US$ 3 million in essential medicines for ICU patients seriously affected by COVID-19, as well as diagnostic kits that were not Ecuador available locally.
*Source: Strategic Fund Annual Report 2021: Prioritizing Access to Medicines and Supplies for Health Security and Universal Health PAHO/HSS/SF/22-0020
Honduras*
“The Strategic Fund has supported the Honduran Ministry of Health with the acquisition of quality medicines and other supplies to continue providing essential health services and strengthen the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Claudia Quiroz, an official at the Ministry of Health of Honduras.
By leveraging lines of credit through the Strategic Fund, Honduras procured diagnostic tests for COVID-19 to ensure the timely identification of patients affected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This enabled the country to quickly and efficiently make COVID-19 antigen tests accessible for populations living in shelters who were affected by recent hurricanes. Additionally, during the pandemic, the Strategic Fund facilitated the delivery of PPE and essential medicines to Honduras to support the protection of health workers and the diagnosis and treatment of communicable diseases, which allowed ensured, continuous support of key populations despite disruptions in global health supply chains. These products complied with international standards of safety, efficacy, and quality, and generated significant savings for the country’s investments in combating COVID-19.
Source: Strategic Fund Annual Report 2020. Ensuring Access to Essential Medicines and Public Health Supplies while Supporting the COVID-19 Response. PAHO/HSS/SF/21-0007
Peru*
Compared to 2019, Peru nearly doubled the amount of purchase orders placed through the Strategic Fund during 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The country was able to procure more than US$10 million worth of goods through the Strategic Fund, allowing the country to implement its preparedness and response plan against the pandemic. This included the purchase and acquisition of rapid antigen tests, protective glasses, surgical masks, respirators, and gowns, all of which comply with international standards.
Similarly, the technical cooperation provided by the Strategic Fund was important in promoting and supporting alliances with other PROSUR countries for consolidating the demand for medicines and supplies that were difficult to procure in national pharmaceutical markets. This cooperation facilitated the search among international suppliers, especially for medicines required in intensive care units that were in short supply given disruptions to international healthcare supply chains.
Source: Strategic Fund Annual Report 2020. Ensuring Access to Essential Medicines and Public Health Supplies while Supporting the COVID-19 Response. PAHO/HSS/SF/21-0007