The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging Caribbean nations to strengthen their health laws and primary care systems, emphasizing the need for equitable and resilient healthcare. Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO's Director, addressed the Dominican Senate, highlighting the region's complex health challenges and the importance of legislative action. He presented a comprehensive overview of the current health landscape, detailing progress and obstacles, and called on lawmakers to use their power to effect tangible change. The region faces a perfect storm of systemic issues and emerging threats, including long-standing inequalities in access to essential services and a troubling uneven distribution of medical personnel. Dr. Barbosa outlined a strategic roadmap with eight priorities for regional cooperation, focusing on health system reform, disease control, maternal health, technology adoption, and digital transformation. The visit to the Dominican Republic solidified partnerships, with the signing of a Technical Cooperation Framework Agreement and a Country Cooperation Strategy, setting a new standard for parliamentary health cooperation in the Americas.
