Washington, D.C., June 23, 2025 (PAHO) – Today, the Executive Committee of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), one of the governing bodies of the institution, commenced its 176th session in Washington, D.C. The committee’s objective is to deliberate on more than a dozen priority issues aimed at enhancing health in the Americas region.
Among the key agenda items are the Proposed Strategic Plan for 2026-2031, the Proposed Program Budget for 2026-2027, the Policy for increasing equitable access to high-cost and high-price health technologies, the Plan of Action for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) for 2025-2030, and the Strategy on Health and Migration for 2026-2031.
Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, the Director of PAHO, inaugurated the session by emphasizing the significance of this forum as a vital opportunity to bolster regional cooperation. “This Executive Committee meeting offers a crucial platform to influence the Organization’s strategy in tackling challenges and, ultimately, enhancing health outcomes throughout the region,” he remarked.
In his address, Dr. Barbosa highlighted the ongoing challenges confronting the region. “PAHO has been diligently working to safeguard the Americas region. There is an urgent necessity to enhance immunization coverage due to the significant risk posed by vaccine-preventable diseases,” he remarked.
He further stressed the significance of improving control over outbreaks such as yellow fever, H5N1, measles, and dengue, as well as enhancing maternal, neonatal, and child health indicators, along with care for noncommunicable diseases, including mental health.
A key focus is the Proposed Strategic Plan 2026-2031, which advocates for a more integrated, agile, and country-priority-oriented approach. “I rely on your ongoing leadership, expertise, and collaboration to finalize the Plan, and I reaffirm the Secretariat’s commitment to continue facilitating your participation and dialogue, working together, implementing lessons learned, and innovations,” Dr. Barbosa stated.
Another significant point is the Policy aimed at expanding equitable access to high-cost and high-priced health technologies, which seeks to tackle challenges related to the availability of treatments such as insulins, cancer therapies, and medications for rare diseases. “All nations, whether developing or developed, encounter challenges concerning the pricing and availability of these technologies,” the PAHO Director underscored.
Furthermore, the Committee will consider the Action Plan on Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Control for the years 2025-2030, which is designed to assist countries in expediting efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.4, which aims to decrease premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by the year 2030. Additionally, the new Strategy on Health and Migration for 2026-2031 will be introduced, focusing on addressing health challenges that arise from the increasing migratory movements within the region.
In a regional and global appeal, Dr. Barbosa called upon the Americas to unite under the principle of Pan-Americanism. “The strength of Pan-Americanism remains as powerful today as it was over a century ago, and I am convinced it is one of the essential elements in creating a brighter, healthier future for our region,” he stated.
The PAHO Director concluded his address by reiterating PAHO’s dedication to health equity. “Ultimately, Pan-Americanism embodies our unwavering commitment to health equity. Therefore, we must be tireless in our efforts to achieve universal health coverage, ensuring that every individual, family, and community in the Americas has an equal opportunity to lead a healthy life,” he concluded.
The Executive Committee consists of representatives from nine Member States, serving staggered terms of three years. Currently, it includes Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Uruguay, and the United States. The discussions held this week will lay the groundwork for proposals to be presented to all member countries during the Directing Council in September.
