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Date: April 15, 2025
Time: 10:00 am – 11:30 am (EDT)
Languages: The event will offer simultaneous interpretation into Spanish, French, English, Portuguese, and international sign languages.
Background
Primary health care (PHC) serves as the cornerstone for building universal, equitable, and resilient health systems. Robust PHC requires not only first-level services but also comprehensive public health functions and capacities. The essential public health functions (EPHF) constitute the foundation that complements PHC. The EPHF provide a fundamental strategic framework to strengthen the response capacity of health systems and align them with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, outlining 11 essential functions across evaluation, policy development, resource allocation, and access to services.
By prioritizing EPHF, health authorities can drive substantial improvements in both health system capacity and health outcomes across the region. This webinar explores how health leaders, policymakers and related stakeholders can leverage EPHF as a powerful tool for accelerating health system transformation, strengthening capacities, and advancing sustainable development in the Americas.
Objectives of the Webinar
- Present a comprehensive methodology for evaluation, analysis, and strengthening of capacities for the effective exercise of the EPHF.
- Offer a regional situation analysis based on the results obtained from the evaluation and strengthening of the EPHF, implemented by Member States.
- Promote an exchange of country experiences in the strategic application of EPHF results
- Provide recommendations for action and continued strengthening of the EPHF, with the aim of improving public health in the Region.
Target Audience
The webinar is designed for policymakers, health ministry representatives, health leaders, public health professionals, and other stakeholders involved in health system strengthening.
Agenda
Moderator: Ana Rivière Cinnamond, PAHO/WHO Representative, Panama
Welcome and Opening Remarks: Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Jr., Director, Pan American Health Organization (TBC)
Strategy for Strengthening the EPHF to Accelerate Health Systems Transformation: Ernesto Báscolo, Unit Chief, Primary Health Care and Integrated Service Delivery, PAHO/WHO
- Presentation of recently approved EPHF strategy
- Guidance and support for the Region
Implementation of the EPHF in the Americas: Evaluation and Strengthening of Capacities: Natalia Houghton, Technical Officer, Primary Health Care Policy, Planning and Evaluation PAHO/WHO
- Overview of the EPHF regional report and supplements.
- Regional results from baseline assessments in countries
- Significance for building resilient health systems.
Panel: Accelerating the implementation of essential public health functions in the Americas
Strengthening and implementation of the Essential Public Health Functions: Andrés Castañeda Prado, Coordinator, National Public Health Service, Mexico (TBC)
- Experience and key takeaways from the EPHF evaluation.
- Translation of results into action in Mexico.
Strengthening leadership, stewardship, and governance for primary health care-based health systems through implementation of the EPHF: Ministry of Health representative, Dominican Republic (TBC)
- Strategic actions identified from baseline assessments in countries.
- Translation of results into action in the Dominican Republic.
Strengthening public health workforce competencies to effectively implement the EPHF: Eduardo Guerrero, President, Colombian Public Health Association
- Evaluation of the competencies of HRH for EPHF in Colombia
- Key actions to strengthen competencies
Capacity building and evaluation: Wolgang Munar, Associate Professor and Director, Gill-Lebovic Center for the Caribbean and Latin America, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health
- Evaluation as a key capacity to strengthen health systems
- Recommendations and identified areas for capacity building
The global commitment to strengthen the EPHF: Sohel Saikat, Lead, Health Systems Resilience and Essential Public Health Functions, World Health Organization
- EPHF as a key component of building resilient health systems around the world
- Identified actions to continue building EPHF capacity at a global level
Closing Remarks: James Fitzgerald, Director, Department of Health Systems and Services PAHO/WHO
- Key takeaways and action points