Paho Concludes 62nd Directing Council With Strategic Plan 2026-2031 For Healthier Americas

The 62nd Directing Council of nan Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) concluded today, mounting a bold schedule to reside pressing wellness challenges crossed nan Americas done nan support of nan PAHO Strategic Plan 2026-2031 and cardinal resolutions aimed astatine expanding entree to high-cost precocious value wellness technologies, and preventing and controlling noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

Over 4 days, wellness ministers and high-level delegates from PAHO Member States engaged successful robust discussions, navigating 43 schedule items, reviewing advancement and last reports, and adopting 9 resolutions. 

"I wish to widen my sincerest acknowledgment and heartfelt appreciation to you each for your individual and corporate contributions to delivering connected this week's extended tasks", said PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa successful his closing remarks. He emphasized nan value of solidarity and associated action, reinforcing PAHO instruction to protect nan wellness of nan group of nan Americas.

Strategic Plan 2026-2031 approved

A cardinal result of nan gathering was nan support of PAHO's Strategic Plan 2026-2031, which lays retired a bold and measurable imagination to accelerate advancement toward healthier, much resilient societies. The scheme was nan merchandise of an extended consultative process involving Member States and stakeholders, and will service arsenic a blueprint to tackle fragmented services, rising NCDs, and emerging wellness threats.

"This Strategic Plan includes an extended study of nan existent context, nan effect of wellness challenges connected wellness and well-being, nan outlook and opportunities for nan future, and nan Bureau's domiciled successful accelerating progress," said Dr. Barbosa.

Key resolutions passed

Delegates approved 9 resolutions, including:

• A new policy for expanding entree to high-cost and high-price wellness technologies, designed to beforehand affordability done stronger regulatory frameworks, expanded usage of location procurement mechanisms, and location invention and production.
• The Plan of Action connected Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Control 2025-2030, which intends to trim nan load of NCDs—such arsenic cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases—through integrated, people-centered superior wellness attraction systems and consequence facet reduction.

Technical briefings and location cooperation

The Council featured respective cardinal briefings, including:

• The motorboat of nan World Bank-PAHO Lancet Regional Health Commission report, No Time to Wait, which warned of dire wellness and economical consequences if countries neglect to fortify superior wellness attraction systems. The study emphasizes that building resilience must beryllium a cornerstone of superior wellness attraction systems successful Latin America and nan Caribbean.
• An update connected the advances successful nan usage of the PAHO's Regional Revolving Funds, showcasing innovations successful location vaccine production, nan preamble of molecular kits for cervical crab diagnosis, and expanded entree to caller wellness technologies.
• A convention connected accelerating nan elimination of communicable diseases, wherever countries shared champion practices and PAHO highlighted "best buys" for reaching susceptible populations and scaling up cost-effective, high-impact interventions. The convention besides included a nickname of Suriname for having eliminated malaria.

"We each work together that while we proceed to build connected our corporate successes, location is still overmuch to beryllium done to reside persistent challenges," said Dr. Barbosa.

In a typical ceremony, PAHO unveiled a sculpture honoring wellness workers of nan Americas for their resilience during nan COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed complete 3 cardinal lives successful nan region.

Peruvian psychiatrist Dr. July Esther Caballero Peralta received nan PAHO Award for Health Services Management and Leadership 2025 for her activity successful expanding intelligence wellness services successful Peru, peculiarly for susceptible populations.

As he closed nan meeting, Dr. Barbosa thanked delegates for their commitment, emphasizing nan "rich consultative process" that shaped nan week's outcomes. "Today, I respectfully inquire that we recommit to our Pan-American values of excellence, solidarity, respect, and integrity," he urged, calling for sustained collaboration to execute a healthier Americas.