Washington, D.C., October 24, 2024 (PAHO)– The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) today convened the Economic and Health Dialogue of the Americas (EHA), bringing together leaders from the health and finance sectors to address the challenges faced by countries in the post-pandemic era.
“The recent COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how deeply interconnected our health systems and economies are,” Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director said during his opening remarks. “The EHA provides us with a valuable platform to explore intersections across sectors, and the discussions we have today will help shape the development of stronger, more resilient health systems and economies,” he added.
The EHA is a multilateral, country-driven initiative that supports countries in coordinating efforts and political commitment to increase health system resilience and improve pandemic preparedness. It leverages best practices in public sector governance, with a particular focus on the intersection of health and economic policies. The United States and the Dominican Republic currently serve as co-chairs.
Earlier this week, PAHO, in collaboration with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), launched a Policy Brief titled “The urgency of investing in health systems in Latin America and the Caribbean to reduce inequality and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.” This report underscores the dual impact of the pandemic on health systems and economies, emphasizing the urgent need for investment to recover lost public health gains and promote greater equity in healthcare access.
During his intervention, Dr. Barbosa highlighted the importance of today’s dialogue in preparation for the upcoming Cumbre de las Américas in 2025, which aims to advance shared goals for improving health outcomes and promoting sustainable development.
"I would like to express special thanks to our Ministries of Health and Finance for their support of the technical work programs related to health governance and reform, social protection, health financing, and access to essential medicines and health technologies. Together, we can ensure that health remains at the center of the region's economic recovery and development strategies," the PAHO Director said.
Participants included José Fernandez, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment at the U.S. Department of State; John N. Nkengasong, US Global Aids Coordinator and Senior Bureau Office for Global Health Security and Diplomacy; Víctor Ito Bisonó, Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of the Dominican Republic; Cristian Espinosa, Ambassador of Ecuador to the United States; Mary Lou Valdez, PAHO Deputy Director; and Pablo Ibarraran, Chief of the Social Protection and Health Division at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
In closing, Dr. Barbosa encouraged all participants to leverage this forum to build stronger partnerships and work towards innovative solutions that will benefit the people of the Americas.
The Economic and Health Dialogue of the Americas was launched by the U.S. Department of State in June 2022 during the 9th Summit of the Americas. The EHA consists of a series of sector-only meetings designed to foster political will and commitments to strengthen public health systems and protect the region’s economies. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), PAHO, and the Organization of American States (OAS) comprises the Executive Technical Working Group of the EHA.
