Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½

Since primary health care (PHC) is the foundation of any health system, it has the capacity to address 80% of all health needs

• PHC based systems provide integrated care from routine primary care services to specialized care services, through integrated health service delivery networks

 

• Strengthening PHC and prioritizing health equity are essential for the Region’s pursuit of a sustainable and inclusive path toward universal health, where 35% of people report unmet needs, while barriers to access services remain significant.

 

 

• The A4PHC is a collaborative effort launched by Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the World Bank in December 2023 to promote coordinated action to shape investments that strengthen health systems based on PHC throughout the Region.

 

• The strong collaboration between Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½, the IDB and the World Bank during the COVID-19 pandemic naturally progressed to establishing the A4PHC in the Americas in December 2023, bringing the sectors of health and finance together in the Region's recovery efforts with emphasis on funding PHC-based health systems resilience in health infrastructure and financing, and in the design of adaptive health services within integrated healthcare networks.

 

• The A4PHC's focuses on strategic planning and resource allocation in PHC at the country level, strategic dialogue around health systems based on PHC, and the alignment of technical and planning instruments for joint support.

 

• A4PHC has three key objectives:

Hover over the cards to see more information

1

Investment

Guide and shape investments in health to ensure sustainable financing for PHC services.

2

Innovation

Leverage innovative approaches and technologies to enhance the delivery and effectiveness of PHC.

3

Implementation

Accelerate the transformation of health systems by implementing policies and initiatives prioritizing PHC.

The Alliance has established coordinating mechanisms in several countries:

Hover over the cards to see more information

Colombia

Colombia's approach has been to focus the work of the A4PHC on strengthening the national health fund to ensure financial and operational sustainability of health systems based on a digital transformation process, enabling access to effective health services for vulnerable populations, interdisciplinary healthcare teams, and expanded telemedicine networks.

Guyana

For Guyana a key topic has been the organization of health networks linking regional hospitals and PHC, in support of the country's new investments in health systems.

Honduras

In Honduras, restoring essential health services in prioritized regions with the greatest needs has been at the forefront, focusing on operational health services delivery networks for adolescent, maternal, child, and neonatal health services.

Panama

In Panama, discussions focused on the country’s efforts to integrate its health system, mainstreaming of digital health within health services, and addressing noncommunicable and communicable diseases on a PHC platform.

Paraguay

In Paraguay, the A4PHC’s partners are tackling the country’s human resources needs, and the delivery of effective mental health services and digital health within PHC.

Peru

Peru has prioritized an operational management model for health services delivery networks on a territorial basis, jointly with the areas of sustainable health financing, human resources, medicines, and digital health.

Uruguay

Uruguay's collaboration has taken advantage of the country's extensive experience in health sector reform processes grounded in PHC-based health systems, digital health, telemedicine, and mental health integrated into PHC for support action in other countries in the Region.

In the Caribbean, the IDB, the World Bank and Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½ worked on the joint initiative on the Caribbean Health Financing with the countries of The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and Grenadines, to support country development of comprehensive financing strategies informed by the latest policy, evidence, and good practices under an overarching PHC–health systems approach. The collaboration will accelerate the advancement of policies and interventions that significantly improve the health and overall well-being of the people across the Caribbean.

Two countries – Dominican Republic and El Salvador – have taken a further step in establishing formal mechanisms for an aligned technical and financial response to country priorities.

Dominican Republic

The country strengthened PHC for prevention and care of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), improved information systems at the first level of care for NCDs, emphasizing digital solutions, critical health workforce, delivery of quality public health care services, public health oversight functions, and climate-resilient health infrastructure.

El Salvador

The country focused on NCDs through physical and digital networked implementation of a comprehensive model of care, quality healthcare services on a PHC platform within integrated healthcare networks, capacity-building for health promotors, the health workforce, supply changes, and key climate-resilient health infrastructure.

One of Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½'s key strengths is its strong presence at country level. This goes beyond mere numbers; it also encompasses technical, logistical and administrative capabilities and collaboration among the various levels of the Organization (regional and subregional), as well as cooperation among countries and horizontal partnerships.

• Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½'s operations at country level include technical and administrative teams that collaborate with the respective ministries of health and other relevant partners in various areas, providing technical solutions and cooperation for the implementation of policies, strategies and plans.

 

• 65% of Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½'s personnel are located in Country Offices or centers, while 35% are based at its Headquarters in Washington, DC.

 

• In 2024, Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½ achieved several milestones in deploying more human and technical resources to where they are most needed in the countries:

• Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½ strives to facilitate the exchange of ideas, proposals, and technical analysis, bringing together the ministers of health, the ministers of foreign affairs, and the countries’ permanent missions in Geneva and Washington, DC.

 

• Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½ is currently the only WHO Regional Office that has provided a forum to facilitate consensus among its Member States.

 

• As the specialized international health agency for the Americas, Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½ does not participate in any negotiation but provides scientific data, analysis, and relevant information about access to medicines, medical products, technology, health security, and regional health priorities.

Hover over the cards to see more information

Speaking as a single voice

The World Health Assembly at its 77th World Health Assembly in May 2024, agreed to a package of amendments to the International Health Regulations, which will come into force withing 12 months.

The process toward the Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Accord

In 2024, Å˽ðÁ«´«Ã½, working with its Member States, facilitated 21 meetings, enabling countries to engage in negotiations of a Pandemic Accord and amendments to the International Health Regulations.