Directing Council Coverage

The Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization meets once a year in those years when the Pan American Sanitary Conference does not meet. It acts on behalf of the Conference between sessions of the Conference.


Ministers of Health and senior authorities from member countries and territories of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will meet from September 30 to October 4 in Washington, D.C, to establish priorities and plans to address the main health challenges faced by the Region of the Americas.


Ministers of Health and senior authorities from member countries and territories of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will meet from September 23 to 27 in Washington, D.C, to establish priorities and plans to address the main health challenges faced by the Region of the Americas.


Ministers of Health and senior authorities from member countries and territories of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) met from September 26 to 30, 2016, in Washington, D.C., to establish priorities and plans to address the main health challenges faced by the Region of the Americas.


The 54th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) took place from September 28 to October 2, 2015, in Washington, DC. The Directing Council is one of the governing bodies of the Organization and meets once a year, in those years when the Pan American Sanitary Conference, the supreme authority of PAHO, does not meet. The function of the Directing Council, which is composed of representatives from the Member States of the Organization, is to determine its policies, discuss regional priorities in public health, and develop strategies and action plans to improve population health and prevent illness and death. It also acts as a forum for the exchange of information and ideas.


The 53rd Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) took place from 29 September to 3 October 2014 in Washington, D.C. The Directing Council is one of PAHO's Governing Bodies and meets yearly, except in years when the Pan American Sanitary Conference-the Organization's supreme authority-convenes. The Directing Council sets the Organizations policies and priorities for technical cooperation, discusses regional public health challenges, and establishes strategies and plans of action to improve population health and prevent diseases and death.