Health authorities from across the Americas have approved a new regional policy to expand access to high-cost and high-price health technologies, including medicines and vaccines. The agreement was reached during the 62nd Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and aims to ensure that essential technologies are accessible to all who need them.
The policy adopts a comprehensive public health approach covering the entire life cycle of health technologies—from research and development to adoption and rational use within health systems. It focuses on five strategic areas: strengthening regional innovation and production; improving evaluation and selection processes; consolidating regulatory frameworks and promoting competition; expanding the use of PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds; and promoting evidence generation and data-driven decision-making.
María Luz Pombo, Acting Director of PAHO’s Department of Innovation and Access to Medicines and Health Technologies, emphasized that the policy is a decisive step toward reducing inequalities in access to health technologies. Implementation is expected to support more informed decision-making, more efficient procurement, and stronger negotiating power, thereby enhancing the sustainability and equity of health systems.
The policy addresses challenges such as rising legal claims to access health technologies, dependence on imports, fragmented procurement processes, and lack of transparency in purchasing. In the Americas, the cost of critical medicines can vary drastically, sometimes up to 45 times higher between countries and more than 400% between suppliers within the same country, which undermines equity and health system sustainability.
PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds have previously enabled Member States to access new technologies—such as vaccines and treatments for hepatitis C and pediatric, breast, and prostate cancers—at affordable prices by consolidating regional demand and facilitating procurement of quality-assured, high-impact health technologies.
The policy was developed with contributions from over 28 Member States, including countries from MERCOSUR and the Andean Health Organization – Hipólito Unanue Agreement (ORAS-CONHU), reflecting a broad regional commitment to equitable access to essential health technologies.
