ECLAC, PAHO Urge Health Investment in Post-Pandemic LATAM

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have called on regional governments to prioritize health investments, even in a post-pandemic period. In a new joint report, the organizations emphasized the need to ensure the right to health for all citizens while advancing inclusive social development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The report, the Urgency of Investing in Health Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean to Reduce Inequality and Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), warns that the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with a regional development crisis, threatens progress on key SDG targets.

ECLAC projects that only 22% of the SDG targets will be met by 2030, while 46% require accelerated efforts to stay on track. The remaining 32% of targets are unlikely to be reached. These setbacks are reflected in key health indicators, such as maternal mortality and immunization rates, which have suffered declines due to the pandemic and related crises.

The report also identifies significant gaps in public health investment across the region. Despite a 25% increase in public health spending per country between 2000 and 2014, average spending reached only 4.5% of GDP by 2021, falling short of the 6% target set by PAHO-WHO. Private spending continues to play a major role, with out-of-pocket expenses accounting for 28% of total health costs in 2021. In 11 countries, this figure exceeded 35%, creating barriers to accessing necessary care, particularly for low-income populations.

“These disparities in access and quality of care highlight the urgent need for increased public health investment,” says José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary, ECLAC. He stressed that addressing the region's development crisis requires social agreements supported by fiscal reforms that enable sustainable health funding. He also underscored the necessity of expanding social protections to reduce inequality and promote sustainable development.

The report also highlights the stark inequalities that persist in the region. For instance, maternal mortality rates in the lowest-income quintile are more than seven times higher than in the highest-income quintile. Also, the burden of chronic noncommunicable diseases is disproportionately felt by lower-income populations, who have a 46% higher risk of premature death compared to wealthier groups. 

To address these disparities, ECLAC and PAHO emphasize the need for a comprehensive primary health care strategy. This includes integrated services, essential public health functions, multisectoral collaboration, and active social participation. According to the report, aligning health with broader social protection measures is key to addressing the social determinants of health and achieving long-term resilience.