Integrating comprehensive surgical, intensive, and emergency care systems into the Pan American Health Organization’s health agenda
In October 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) formally integrated surgical, intensive, and emergency care into its health agenda. This followed important events, including the June 2024 endorsement of the Strategy on Integrated Emergency, Critical and Operative Care 2025–2030 by the P...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pan American Health Organization
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública |
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| Online Access: | https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/64457 |
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| author | Maria Jose Garcia Fuentes Ayla Gerk Leticia Campos Alejandro Torres Taylor Wurdeman Nikathan Kumar Ruth Jimbo-Sotomayor Juan Carlos Salamea Luiz Fernando dos Reis Falcão Guido Parquet John G. Meara Tarsicio Uribe-Leitz Alfredo Borrero Vega |
| author_facet | Maria Jose Garcia Fuentes Ayla Gerk Leticia Campos Alejandro Torres Taylor Wurdeman Nikathan Kumar Ruth Jimbo-Sotomayor Juan Carlos Salamea Luiz Fernando dos Reis Falcão Guido Parquet John G. Meara Tarsicio Uribe-Leitz Alfredo Borrero Vega |
| author_sort | Maria Jose Garcia Fuentes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In October 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) formally integrated surgical, intensive, and emergency care into its health agenda. This followed important events, including the June 2024 endorsement of the Strategy on Integrated Emergency, Critical and Operative Care 2025–2030 by the PAHO Executive Committee. This strategy builds on the 2015 World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution 68.15, which recognized surgery as essential to universal health coverage, and the 2023 WHA Resolution 76.2, which called for standardized emergency preparedness and response. With 365 million Latin Americans lacking access to essential surgical services, the need for a regional action plan is urgent. Ecuador, the first country in Latin America to develop a national surgical, obstetric, and anesthesia plan (NSOAP), highlighted the need for integrated surgical care to address health disparities in the region. While PAHO’s formal integration is commendable, its success will rely on sustained political engagement, financial commitment, and robust monitoring. This article outlines the foundations for this strategy, the mechanisms required for successful implementation, and the role of PAHO and its Member States in strengthening surgical systems as a public health priority. By focusing on vulnerable groups and leveraging collaboration, this initiative can reduce health inequities across the Americas, reinforcing universal health coverage and access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f3369c00dc9d41208505ff8865adde1b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1020-4989 1680-5348 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Pan American Health Organization |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública |
| spelling | doaj-art-f3369c00dc9d41208505ff8865adde1b2025-02-11T14:07:09ZengPan American Health OrganizationRevista Panamericana de Salud Pública1020-49891680-53482025-02-014921510.26633/RPSP.2025.16rpspIntegrating comprehensive surgical, intensive, and emergency care systems into the Pan American Health Organization’s health agendaMaria Jose Garcia Fuentes0Ayla Gerk1Leticia Campos2Alejandro Torres3Taylor Wurdeman4Nikathan Kumar5Ruth Jimbo-Sotomayor6Juan Carlos Salamea7Luiz Fernando dos Reis Falcão8Guido Parquet9John G. Meara10Tarsicio Uribe-Leitz11Alfredo Borrero Vega12Corporación Latinoamericana para la Salud, Quito, EcuadorProgram in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of AmericaProgram in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of AmericaUniversidad de las Américas, Quito, EcuadorProgram in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of AmericaProgram in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of AmericaPontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, EcuadorUniversidad del Azuay, Cuenca, EcuadorFederal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilInternational College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL, United States of AmericaProgram in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of AmericaProgram in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of AmericaCorporación Latinoamericana para la Salud, Quito, EcuadorIn October 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) formally integrated surgical, intensive, and emergency care into its health agenda. This followed important events, including the June 2024 endorsement of the Strategy on Integrated Emergency, Critical and Operative Care 2025–2030 by the PAHO Executive Committee. This strategy builds on the 2015 World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution 68.15, which recognized surgery as essential to universal health coverage, and the 2023 WHA Resolution 76.2, which called for standardized emergency preparedness and response. With 365 million Latin Americans lacking access to essential surgical services, the need for a regional action plan is urgent. Ecuador, the first country in Latin America to develop a national surgical, obstetric, and anesthesia plan (NSOAP), highlighted the need for integrated surgical care to address health disparities in the region. While PAHO’s formal integration is commendable, its success will rely on sustained political engagement, financial commitment, and robust monitoring. This article outlines the foundations for this strategy, the mechanisms required for successful implementation, and the role of PAHO and its Member States in strengthening surgical systems as a public health priority. By focusing on vulnerable groups and leveraging collaboration, this initiative can reduce health inequities across the Americas, reinforcing universal health coverage and access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical care.https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/64457global healthpan american health organizationgeneral surgeryuniversal health coveragehealth systems |
| spellingShingle | Maria Jose Garcia Fuentes Ayla Gerk Leticia Campos Alejandro Torres Taylor Wurdeman Nikathan Kumar Ruth Jimbo-Sotomayor Juan Carlos Salamea Luiz Fernando dos Reis Falcão Guido Parquet John G. Meara Tarsicio Uribe-Leitz Alfredo Borrero Vega Integrating comprehensive surgical, intensive, and emergency care systems into the Pan American Health Organization’s health agenda Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública global health pan american health organization general surgery universal health coverage health systems |
| title | Integrating comprehensive surgical, intensive, and emergency care systems into the Pan American Health Organization’s health agenda |
| title_full | Integrating comprehensive surgical, intensive, and emergency care systems into the Pan American Health Organization’s health agenda |
| title_fullStr | Integrating comprehensive surgical, intensive, and emergency care systems into the Pan American Health Organization’s health agenda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating comprehensive surgical, intensive, and emergency care systems into the Pan American Health Organization’s health agenda |
| title_short | Integrating comprehensive surgical, intensive, and emergency care systems into the Pan American Health Organization’s health agenda |
| title_sort | integrating comprehensive surgical intensive and emergency care systems into the pan american health organization s health agenda |
| topic | global health pan american health organization general surgery universal health coverage health systems |
| url | https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/64457 |
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