IDB and PAHO Join Forces to Drive Digital Health and Pandemic Preparedness in Latin America and the Caribbean – PAHO/WHO
The new agreement will focus on three priority areas: strengthening health systems based on primary health care; information systems and digital health; and pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
Washington, DC, April 25, 2024 (PAHO) – The president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ilan Goldfajn, and the director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Jarbas Barbosa, signed an agreement to accelerate the digital transformation of health services, strengthen primary health care and improve pandemic preparedness throughout the Latin American and Caribbean region.
The new agreement will focus on three priority areas: strengthening health systems based on primary health care; information systems and digital health; and pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
Dr. Barbosa thanked the agreement and the opportunity to work together with the IDB. “This collaboration will be essential to take more effective actions towards a healthier future for everyone in the region,” he said.
To support the countries of the region in strengthening health systems, PAHO and the IDB will work together to identify resources and support the development of investment plans to increase access, coverage and quality of services. health care based on Primary Health Care. To achieve this, they will also collaborate with other partners and organizations, including the Alliance for Primary Health Care (A4PHC) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank).
«There is an urgent need to improve health care in countries throughout the hemisphere,» said IDB President Ilan Goldfajn. «This agreement will help us better promote and protect the well-being of people and communities across the region by working together to improve primary care, digitize healthcare services, and prepare for potential future pandemics.»
As part of the new agreement, the two organizations will also provide technical, financial and operational assistance to ensure that individuals, communities, providers and decision-makers have the digital health tools necessary to improve access and coverage, as well as to generate evidence. decisions based on public health. This also includes support for the implementation of the Pan American Highway for Digital Health, the Regional Roadmap for the Digital Transformation of the Health Sector and the renewed Action Plan for strengthening information systems for health 2024-2030. Last March, Japan became a donor to the Pan-American Highway with a contribution of five million dollars.
PAHO and IDB will also work to strengthen countries’ capacity to prepare for and respond effectively to emergencies and disasters, as a key component of essential public health factors. This will include collaboration to support countries in the implementation of Voluntary External Assessments of International Health Regulations (IHR) core capacities, as well as in the preparation of proposals for submission to the Pandemic Fund.
