Two members welcomed to The Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas
THE ALLIANCE FOR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE (PHC), in the Americas, a joint initiative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Bank (WB), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is celebrating its second anniversary with achievements in transforming health systems across the region.
The Second Regional Forum of the PHC Alliance, held in Rio de Janeiro from January 26 to 28, brought together health authorities, technical partners, and financial institutions to share experiences, assess progress, and define joint strategies.
The Alliance announced the formal incorporation of Bolivia and Uruguay as members.The new members launched their national coordination platforms, which are designed as spaces for dialogue and to coordinate investments among the ministries of health and finance, PAHO, and development banks in order to accelerate the implementation of PHC. Brazil endorsed the initiative by signing a letter of intent.
Since its launch in Montevideo, Uruguay, in December 2023, the Alliance has consolidated itself as an innovative regional mechanism that promotes health system transformation through PHC, widely recognized as the cornerstone for achieving universal health. Its approach combines technical cooperation, strategic financing, and policy dialogue to support countries in implementing people-centered primary care reforms and strengthening preparedness for future health crises.
During its first two years of operation, the Alliance said it has facilitated the alignment of investment plans and the mobilization of resources among PAHO, the World Bank, and the IDB, channelling more than one billion dollars to the five countries that are already formal members of the Alliance and have operational national coordination platforms: Chile, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Panama, and Paraguay.
These investments support priority areas such as non-communicable diseases, digital health, mental health, strengthening human resources, integrated health service networks, and disease elimination— key components of resilient, primary health care–based health systems.
“In just two years, the Alliance has demonstrated its ability to align technical cooperation, financing, and policy dialogue in support of national priorities,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO, during the closing of the Forum and the launch of the coordinating platforms for Bolivia and Uruguay.
“The formal joining of these countries and the creation of their coordination platforms represent a strategic step to identify gaps, direct cooperation where it is most needed, prioritize investments, and accelerate the strengthening of networks and universal access to health,” he added.
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