WASHINGTON, United States  (CMC) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says there is an urgent need to strengthen public health capacities in the institutions of the region of the Americas to ensure universal access to health and respond effectively to current and future health challenges.

PAHO has presented its “Implementation of the essential health functions in the Americas, Evaluation and Strengthening of capacities” report based on evaluations conducted between 2021 and 2023 in 14 countries of the Americas.

Several Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries, namely Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, and Suriname, participated in the evaluations.

The report underscores the critical role of the essential public health functions (EPHF) as a strategic framework for improving health systems. These functions span 11 key areas, including population health surveillance and assessment, development of health policies and plans, and equitable access to care.

PAHO said implementation of the EPHF seeks to strengthen health governance, reduce inequalities, and increase resilience in the face of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

“By prioritising the EPHF, countries can significantly improve the capacities of their health systems to respond to the needs of populations and achieve more equitable and effective outcomes,” said PAHO director, Jarbas Barbosa.

“This not only strengthens the capacity to respond to emergencies, but also ensures a solid foundation for addressing long-term health challenges,” he added.

PAHO said that there has been significant but uneven progress in the region with 10 of the 14 countries evaluated having used the EPHF evaluations to identify priorities and develop strategic action plans.

PAHO said in general, the evaluated countries have moderate capacity to implement the EPHF, ranging from 40 to 59 per cent of the established standards.

However, there are differences between subregions.

It said Caribbean countries show more limited capacity, while Latin American countries achieve moderate levels. The average compliance rate for the region as a whole remains below 60 per cent, reflecting persistent challenges such as fragmented health systems, lack of financial and human resources, and the absence of integrated information systems.

These limitations hinder countries’ ability to monitor health, plan actions, and coordinate responses among different sectors.

PAHO said the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of the EPHF. It said countries that have made greater progress in implementation showed better preparedness and response during the pandemic, indicating the need to integrate these functions into a robust primary health care model.

PAHO is recommending that member states and partners  prioritise increase funding for the EPHF, with emphasis on the development of human resources and information technologies as well as establish integrated platforms for the collection, analysis, and use of health data.

In addition, PAHO is  calling on countries to strengthen coordination mechanisms between the public and private sectors and civil society, improve leadership and stewardship in public health to ensure inclusive and effective policies.

In September 2024, the countries of the Americas approved the Strategy for Strengthening the Essential Public Health Functions to Accelerate Health Systems Transformation 2024–2034, a regional framework that combines the EPHF with primary health care to transform health systems.

PAHO said that this strategy helps countries develop national policies and train local teams, fostering a comprehensive approach that addresses diseases as well as their social determinants.

PAHO said it is reiterating its commitment to provide technical and strategic assistance to the countries of the region as they assess and strengthen their public health capacities.

“The EPHF provide a clear roadmap for moving toward resilient systems that protect the populations of today and tomorrow,” Barbosa said.

As part of this effort, a regional network on governance and the EPHF is being created. This collaborative space seeks to promote more resilient and equitable health systems in the Americas, facilitating the exchange of experiences and solutions to overcome common challenges.