PAHO Report Highlights Need for Primary Health Care to Achieve Universal Health in the Americas

Progress and Challenges in Ensuring Access to Health Services

A new report by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has underscored the need to prioritize primary health care to advance toward universal health in the Americas, including the Caribbean. The report highlights both the progress made and the persistent challenges faced by countries in the region in their efforts to ensure access to health services without imposing an unsustainable financial burden on individuals.

Universal Health Day Celebrated

The report, titled “Progress in universal health in the Americas: addressing unmet healthcare needs, gaps in coverage, and lack of financial protection through primary health care,” was presented on the occasion of Universal Health Day (known globally as Universal Health Coverage Day), celebrated each year on December 12. PAHO said the day highlights “the urgent need to overcome the barriers that limit access to health services for millions of people.”

Challenges and Solutions

PAHO’s Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, emphasized that “the report reflects PAHO’s commitment to advancing towards universal health in a region that has made great progress, but also faces persistent challenges that require innovative solutions, particularly regarding primary healthcare.” In this context, he stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep vulnerabilities in health systems, such as fragmentation, access barriers, and inequalities that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.

The report emphasizes that unmet healthcare needs affect more than one-third of the surveyed population in the Americas, primarily impacting the poorest communities. It added that while higher-income countries report fewer unmet needs, in lower-middle-income countries, these needs exceed 40 percent, contributing to higher rates of preventable mortality.

The report also highlights the economic burden of out-of-pocket expenses on households, including direct payments for medical services, medications, and treatments, which affect millions of people every year. It is estimated that up to 79 million people in the region face financial difficulties due to healthcare costs, according to the report.

Renewed Focus on Primary Healthcare

PAHO stressed that a renewed focus on primary healthcare is essential to address these issues, offering more accessible care, reducing economic barriers, and improving system resilience. In this regard, Dr. Barbosa said: “The path forward is to strengthen primary health care.” “This will be key to ensuring access to care, and to strengthening the resilience and equity of our health systems, and primarily to address the diverse needs of communities,” he added.

Regional Disparities and Solutions

The report also points out that regional disparities remain a major obstacle to achieving universal health coverage in Latin America and the Caribbean. According to the report, 35.2 percent of the region’s population reports unmet healthcare needs, with disparities more pronounced in lower-income communities, where 38.5 percent of the population faces barriers to accessing healthcare.

PAHO has urged governments in the region to prioritize investment in health infrastructure and the training of medical personnel, particularly in underserved areas. It also recommended eliminating co-payments and expanding health insurance coverage to protect families from catastrophic and impoverishing expenses.

Conclusion

The PAHO report makes clear that achieving universal health in the Americas is not only about expanding coverage but also ensuring that this coverage is of quality, accessible, and financially sustainable.

FAQs

Q: What is the main challenge facing the region in achieving universal health coverage?
A: Regional disparities and unmet healthcare needs are major obstacles to achieving universal health coverage in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Q: What is the solution proposed by PAHO to address these challenges?
A: PAHO recommends a renewed focus on primary healthcare, investing in health infrastructure and training medical personnel, eliminating co-payments, and expanding health insurance coverage.

Q: What is the estimated number of people in the region who face financial difficulties due to healthcare costs?
A: Up to 79 million people in the region face financial difficulties due to healthcare costs, according to the report.