Washington, D.C., September 30, 2024 (PAHO) – The Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance of the Dominican Republic (MISPAS) and the National Health Service (SNS) of the Dominican Republic have joined forces with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) through the establishment of the Mesa Consultiva of Primary Health Care [a strategic dialogue and coordination mechanism] in the Dominican Republic to address inequities in access to health, universal coverage, and emerging challenges such as climate change and demographic and epidemiological transitions.
The ceremony was held within the framework of the 61st PAHO Directing Council in Washington D.C., with the participation of PAHO/WHO Director Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Jr.; the Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance of the Dominican Republic, Victor Atallah; the Executive Director of the National Health Service of the Dominican Republic, Mario Lama; the Director of Human Development for Latin America and the Caribbean of the World Bank, Jaime Saavedra; and the Chief of the IDB's Health and Social Protection Division, Pablo Ibarraran.
Since its launch in December 2023, the Alliance for Primary Health Care has been working in 10 countries in the Americas region in close collaboration with the health authorities of each country. Its objective is to strengthen investments, innovation, and the implementation of policies and initiatives to transform health systems in the Region, with a strong emphasis on primary health care.
"The Alliance will serve the Dominican Republic to strengthen Primary Health Care as the gateway to the health system and for the promotion and prevention of health for the entire population," said Victor Atallah. Mario Lama, in turn, stressed that the Dominican Republic is committed to Primary Health Care and this event marks a milestone to relaunch the PHC strategy in the country.
"The Alliance’s Mesa Consultiva in the Dominican Republic is an innovative governance mechanism at the national level, of great importance to consolidate the stewardship and leadership of the Ministry of Health. Other countries are analyzing this experience to advance actions through the Alliance. PAHO is fully committed to supporting this strategic and coordination mechanism, and to providing technical cooperation to scale up and support the transformation of health systems," said Jarbas Barbosa.
Jaime Saavedra pointed out that the Dominican Republic is an excellent partner to highlight and reflect the potential of the Alliance. The development and approval of the National Strategic Health Plan 2030, which places PHC as a fundamental axis, has strong political support from the President and the executive and will be vital to address the challenges of improving maternal and child health and non-communicable diseases that afflict the country.
“At the IDB, we are committed to the Alliance for Primary Care in Latin America, and we welcome the Dominican Republic's initiative to convene the Mesa Consultiva, which sets a model for how the Alliance can be effectively implemented in the countries. This strategic space is key because it aligns the efforts of PAHO, the IDB, and the World Bank with the country's priorities," said Pablo Ibarraran.
The Mesa Consultiva for Primary Health Care in the Dominican Republic (Mesa RD) will facilitate coordination and promote coherence between existing and future projects, as well as the technical assistance provided by PAHO, the IDB and the World Bank, enabling the participation of local partners, regional, international community and private sector. In the country, this strategic and coordination mechanism will fulfill the important function of linking the Alliance with other organizations in the country such as the Health Reform Roundtable, the National Health Council, vice-ministries and directorates of MISPAS and the SNS to shape coordinated actions.
