PAHO,CEPI Unite to Enhance Regulatory Standards in the Americas

The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) have entered into a significant technical cooperation agreement aimed at advancing regulatory harmonization in the Americas. This agreement, signed during the 79th UN General Assembly in New York, marks a crucial step in strengthening pandemic preparedness and improving health security across the region.

The primary objective of this partnership is to bolster the efforts of the Pan American Network for Drug Regulatory Harmonization (PANDRH), as reported by PAHO. As the technical secretariat for PANDRH, PAHO will collaborate with CEPI to enhance regulatory frameworks that facilitate equitable access to quality medical products during public health emergencies. 

"Functional regulatory systems are essential for ensuring equitable access to quality-assured and safe medical products during pandemics and other public health emergencies," says Jarbas Barbosa, Director, PAHO. He expressed enthusiasm about enhancing collaboration with CEPI to strengthen health security for people across the Americas, following a cooperation framework established in 2023 that aims to benefit the region's populations.

PANDRH was founded in 1999 with the mission of strengthening regulatory functions across the Americas. The network seeks to achieve regulatory convergence and harmonization, addressing existing disparities while promoting good regulatory practices and science. Its initiatives include developing and implementing common regulations for health technologies, thereby fostering a more cohesive approach to public health challenges.

The agreement aligns with recommendations from the recent XI PANDRH Conference, which celebrated the network's 25th anniversary. The conference underscored the need for a new strategic plan to tackle emerging regional challenges, particularly focusing on improving regulatory preparedness for health crises.

The region must remain vigilant against the emergence and reemergence of infectious diseases, explained José Moya, Representative in Mexico, PAHO/WHO.  The organization aims to eliminate 30 diseases and conditions in the region, including cervical cancer and congenital Chagas disease, while continuing to address ongoing public health emergencies.