PAHO participated in a high-level event hosted by the President of
the Plurinational State of Bolivia on 10 December 2021 ahead of
Universal Health Day, celebrated on 12 December. With 46% of
countries in the Americas continuing to report disruptions in health
service delivery due to the pandemic, PAHO’s Director, Carissa F.
Etienne, called for countries to urgently prioritize public investment to
ensure resilient health systems that leave no one behind. Dr. Etienne
said that maternal and child health, communicable diseases, routine
immunization, and the prevention and control of non-communicable
diseases are areas particularly impacted by the pandemic. The theme of
Universal Health Day 2021 is ‘Leave no one’s health behind: invest in
health systems for all,’ the achievement of which is only possible through
a primary health care approach which “provides us with the platform to
deliver quality, comprehensive care to all,” the Director urged. At the
PAHO Directing Council in September 2021, Member States approved
a strategy for building resilient health systems post-COVID-19, which
includes four lines of action: transformation of health systems based on
a primary health care approach; strengthening leadership, stewardship,
and governance; strengthening capacities of health service delivery
networks; and increasing and sustaining public financing in health and
social protection. Dr. Etienne highlighted that adequate financing, a
qualified workforce, increased primary health care services, access to
health technologies, medicines, and information systems, and increased
capacity for regional research and development should be the focus of
countries as they work towards ensuring the development of resilient
health care systems. “We must be better prepared. We must address
pre-pandemic systemic deficiencies as a matter of priority,” the Director
concluded.
From 6 to 10 December 2021, PAHO convened the 10th Conference
of the Pan American Network for Drug Regulatory Harmonization
(PANDRH), which brought together national health and pharmaceutical
regulatory authorities in the Region to discuss lessons learned from the
COVID-19 pandemic and how to tackle new challenges under the
emerging global dynamics. The crucial role of national regulatory
authorities (NRAs) in supporting access to vaccines and other medical
products in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in the post-COVID-
19 recovery era was a key topic discussed during the Conference.
Responding to the lack of access to COVID-19 vaccines in the Region,
PAHO and partners earlier this year launched a regional platform to
boost vaccine production within the Region, focusing first on the mRNA
technology used in some COVID-19 vaccines. NRAs are pivotal to any
endeavor to increase access to live-saving drugs, as they oversee the
safety, quality, and efficacy of all health technologies, including
pharmaceuticals, vaccines, blood and blood products, and medical devices. “Never in the history of public health in the Americas have the
collective actions of national regulatory authorities and industry been so
important,” said PAHO Director Carissa F. Etienne during her opening
remarks. PAHO Assistant Director Jarbas Barbosa drew attention to the
regulatory lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, which
required the rapid authorization of medicines and other health
technologies as well as strengthened market surveillance. Closing the
conference, PAHO Deputy Director Mary Lou Valdez noted that
“regulatory authorities have been central to the delivery of and access to
much needed vaccines and supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These will remain critical as countries grapple with recovery and
rebuilding efforts, including expanding manufacturing capacity in our own Region."
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