World Health Day (DMS) 2023 finds the countries of the region of the Americas, including Ecuador, re-impulsing health policies and programs that allow recovering the progress towards “health for all”, which has been slowed down and delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
At a global level, the problem is alarming and requires urgent joint actions: 30% of the world’s population cannot access essential health services, and approximately 2,000 million people are facing catastrophic or impoverishing health expenses, with significant inequalities existing affect those who are found in the most vulnerable environments.
For this reason, for this year the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) propose —by the DMS— the motto “Health for All”, recalling that all people must have access to the services of health they need when and where they need them without going through economic difficulties. It is essential for countries to increase investment in health, both to promote solid and integrated health systems and to build healthy living environments.
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On the one hand, setting up solid and integrated national health systems makes it possible to offer the population universal health coverage and a preparation to respond to emergencies. In this sense, there is a call to reaffirm the commitment to primary health care (PHC) as a cornerstone of sustainable and resilient health systems that move towards universal coverage and universal access to health, as well as towards fulfillment of Sustainable Development Goals (ODS).
It is important to underline that the motto “Health for all” in our region also has a root in the community and the territory. Both social and political leadership in favor of the right to health and initiatives to strengthen health systems from the PHC approach must adopt a strong perspective and territorial belonging. Therefore, among various policies and programs with which PAHO/WHO is currently cooperating in Ecuador, together with the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), the Integrated Health Services Network (RISS) is being built and promoted, as it is one of the main operational expressions of the APS approach, which will allow to increase resilience and expand health coverage.
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At the same time, it is also imperative to increase public funding in order to reduce pocket spending and advance in concerted efforts to build healthy living environments focused on health promotion and education. Along this path, which can transform the lives of people by promoting their well-being in health, Ecuador has taken important steps through the construction and launch of the Decennial Health Plan 2022-2031, a strategic framework that transforms the vision of public health in the country and which allows the implementation of strategies and programs with which PAHO/WHO cooperates in the pursuit of universal health.
In conclusion, on this World Health Day, PAHO/WHO ratifies Ecuador’s technical cooperation commitment to strengthen health services, but also to build a country with healthy environments. Only then will we advance towards a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world, where people enjoy a full life and, consequently, with health for all. (O)
