IDB, PAHO to Accelerate Digital Health in LATAM

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) have joined forces to accelerate the digital transformation of health services, bolster primary healthcare, and fortify pandemic preparedness across Latin America and the Caribbean. This partnership will be instrumental in taking more effective actions towards a healthier future for everyone in the region, according to Jarbas Barbosa, Director, PAHO.

Under the new agreement, three priority areas will be targeted including strengthening health systems through primary healthcare, enhancing information systems and digital health, and bolstering pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, as reported by PAHO.

"This agreement will help us better promote and protect the wellbeing of people and communities throughout the region," stated Ian Goldfajn, President, IDB.

To support regional countries strengthen their health systems, PAHO and the IDB will collaborate to identify resources and develop investment plans to expand access, coverage, and quality of health services based on primary healthcare. Collaboration with partners such as the Alliance for Primary Health Care (A4PHC) and the World Bank will also be pursued.

As part of the agreement, the two organizations will provide technical, financial, and operational assistance to ensure access to digital health tools for communities, providers, and decision-makers.

In addition, PAHO and the IDB will collaborate to strengthen countries’ capacity to prepare and respond to emergencies and disasters. This will involve supporting countries in conducting Voluntary External Evaluations of core capacities of the International Health Regulations (IHR) and preparing proposals for submission to the Pandemic Fund. The collaboration between IDB and PAHO signifies a crucial step towards advancing healthcare accessibility, quality, and preparedness across Latin America and the Caribbean.