Countries of the Americas advance a joint agenda on governance, financing and integrated networks to strengthen Primary Health Care

Brasilia, September 2, 2026 (PAHO) - Health authorities and representatives from 16 countries across the Americas are participating in the first joint meeting of the Essential Public Health Functions Network (RedFESP), the Network of National Health Funds in the Americas (REFSA), and the Network to Advance Integrated Health Services Networks (Impulsa-RISS). These three regional technical cooperation platforms, led by countries with the support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), work to align governance, financing, and integrated service delivery as pillars of comprehensive primary health care (PHC).

The meeting is organized by PAHO in coordination with Brazil's Ministry of Health as the host country. The initiative brings together ministers, vice ministers, secretaries, national directors, and technical teams from Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela, along with representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and strategic international cooperation partners such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Opening the meeting, James Fitzgerald, Director of PAHO's Department of Health Systems and Services, emphasized that strengthening health systems based on primary health care is one of the Organization's central technical cooperation priorities. He also underscored the importance of aligning essential public health functions, integrated health services networks, and financing mechanisms to advance toward universal health in the Region. "This is the time to discuss these issues together," he stated, encouraging countries to take full advantage of the space for dialogue and exchange of experiences.

In this context, the meeting offers an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among countries and promote the exchange of experiences aimed at implementing PHC. "We need to deepen our understanding of the complexity of our health systems in Latin America and the Caribbean and expand cooperation among our countries to strengthen truly universal and comprehensive health systems, with primary health care as their structural foundation," said Adriano Massuda, Executive Secretary of Brazil's Ministry of Health.

Highlighting the significance of this first joint gathering of the three networks, Cristian Morales Fuhrimann, PAHO/WHO Representative in Brazil, noted that the networks address fundamental and complementary dimensions of health system strengthening. "Transforming health systems requires aligning governance, financing, and the integrated organization of services, with primary health care serving as a perspective, a philosophy, and a fundamental strategy to guide this transformation," he stated.

Over the course of three days, participants will address the assessment and continuous improvement of Essential Public Health Functions (EPHF), strategic purchasing mechanisms, regionalization of health services, digital health, and the operationalization of Integrated Health Services Networks (IHSNs). They will also present joint regional studies and define cross-network priorities and work agendas for the 2026-2027 biennium.

During the panel introducing the three regional networks that support PHC, participants highlighted the need to strengthen joint efforts in order to accelerate health system transformation.

"Bringing these three networks together for the first time responds to a clear priority: PHC cannot be transformed in isolation. Governance, financing, and service delivery must move forward together to strengthen institutional capacities in countries and translate policies into tangible improvements in every territory," said Ernesto Báscolo, Chief of PAHO's Primary Health Care and Integrated Service Delivery Unit.

The presidents of the three networks agreed that this first joint meeting provides an opportunity to translate technical knowledge and country experiences into practical tools for strengthening health systems.

"The main challenge is not the absence of policies, but turning them into institutional capacities, budgetary decisions, and concrete results in territories. Our network seeks to build that bridge between PHC principles and their effective implementation," emphasized Iritzel Santamaría, President of RedFESP and National Deputy Director of Health Planning at Panama's Ministry of Health.

Darcio Guedes Junior, President of REFSA and Director of Brazil's National Health Fund, highlighted the need to deepen collaboration among the three networks so that financing decisions support health priorities and service organization. In this regard, he stressed that "we need to use financing as a tool to move toward more comprehensive, equitable, and PHC-based health systems."

Meanwhile, Marcela Cuadrado, President of Impulsa-RISS and Vice President of Uruguay's State Health Services Administration (ASSE), noted that integrated networks are where stewardship capacities, financing decisions, and service organization converge. "Integrating health services makes it possible to organize care across territories, strengthen continuity of care, and respond more effectively to the needs of individuals and communities," she said.

The three networks were established in 2025 to promote technical cooperation among countries and support the implementation of concrete actions in priority areas for PHC. Over the past year, participating countries have advanced work plans, technical groups, regional studies, and exchanged experiences that now provide a solid foundation for closer collaboration among the three initiatives.

This first joint meeting consolidates a regional platform aimed at generating public goods and applied technical solutions that strengthen the resilience and equity of health systems across the Americas, while opening new opportunities to enhance technical cooperation among countries in support of primary health care.

Visit the event page to access the agenda, the live stream and the presentations in their original language.