PAHO Promotes Health–Finance Coordination to Strengthen Disaster Risk Management in Central America and the Dominican Republic

Within the framework of the Eighth Consultative Forum of the Central American Policy on Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management (PCGIR), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) convened high-level ministerial dialogues aimed at strengthening coordination among the health and finance sectors, as well as authorities responsible for disaster risk management (DRM) and civil protection. The initiative also sought to promote collaboration with strategic partners, foster investment in health sector resilience, and enhance multisectoral coordination for preparedness, response, and recovery in health emergencies across Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.

In this context, high-level ministerial dialogues were held for the first time, elevating-at both the political and strategic levels-preparedness, risk reduction, and coordinated response to health emergencies, marking a milestone in the regional agenda.

During discussions involving the Council of Ministers of Health of Central America and the Dominican Republic (SE-COMISCA), the Coordination Center for Disaster Prevention in Central America and the Dominican Republic (CEPREDENAC), and the Council of Ministers of Finance or Treasury (COSEFIN), participants underscored the need to strengthen linkages between health, disaster risk management, and public finance in order to ensure the continuity of essential services and reduce the impact of future health emergencies.

"Strengthening health sector resilience requires improving preparedness, but also ensuring that systems and essential services remain operational in the face of any emergency," said Dr. Ciro Ugarte, Director of PAHO's Health Emergencies Department.

PAHO played a strategic leadership role throughout the event by supporting its organization, providing technical cooperation, and promoting coordination among governments, regional integration mechanisms, and development partners. As part of the thematic segment-coordinated jointly with SE-COMISCA and focused on mobilizing investment, financing, and multisectoral coordination for health sector resilience-a key policy dialogue space was created. This platform enabled the identification of priority gaps and the development of strategic recommendations to strengthen regional capacities for preparedness, response, and recovery in health emergencies. It also facilitated alignment with development partners around sustainable financing opportunities, reinforcing the collective commitment to health security and resilient development in the region.

"The forum has become a key platform for comprehensively addressing challenges and opportunities related to preparedness and disaster risk reduction in one of the world's most disaster-prone regions," said José Renán De León Cáceres, Executive Secretary of SE-COMISCA.

"The forum has become a key platform for comprehensively addressing challenges and opportunities related to preparedness and disaster risk reduction in one of the world's most disaster-prone regions," said José Renán De León Cáceres, Executive Secretary of SE-COMISCA.

Adherbal de la Rosa, Executive Secretary of CEPREDENAC, emphasized that "the ministerial dialogues promoted exchanges aimed at strengthening intersectoral coordination and strategic decision-making. These spaces will support progress in integrating disaster risk management into priority public policies-particularly in areas such as public investment, fiscal protection, coordination, preparedness, and disaster risk reduction in health emergencies-reaffirming the commitment of countries in the region to more effective, coordinated, and evidence-based risk governance."

PAHO's engagement strengthens its support to Member States and partnerships with strategic stakeholders, contributing to the development of more resilient, equitable, and sustainable health systems across the Americas.