ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, Jun 4, CMC – The Organization of American States (OAS) has signed an agreement with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) pledging to cooperate in providing universal health coverage in the Americas, including the Caribbean.
OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza and PAHO Director Dr. Carissa Etienne signed the agreement on the sidelines of the OAS General Assembly taking place here.
Insulza said that the lack of access to health coverage “is also linked to the social inequalities that exist in our societies” and that sizeable sectors of the population throughout the Americas lack health coverage.
He said beyond the ideological debate, all citizens must have access to quality health care.
Dominican-born Dr. Etienne said that many countries in the region are concerned about the lack of health coverage for significant sectors of the population of the Americas.
“The objective of this agreement is to strengthen cooperation between both institutions in the area of social inclusion,” she said, stressing the importance of this issue in the Western Hemisphere, “the area of the world with the greatest inequality.
“Social inclusion is very important for PAHO and the World Health Organization, as we work toward achieving universal health coverage,” said Dr. Etienne, adding that “the member states have decided that the Americas will become the first region in the world to achieve universal health coverage”.
In 2009, in response to a mandate of the Fifth Summit of the Americas, the OAS launched the Inter-American Social Protection Network (RIPSO), whose objectives include strengthening the institutional capacity of national social development agencies in formulating and implementing effective and efficient policies and programs to eradicate extreme poverty, and facilitating greater cross-sectoral cooperation on social protection issues.
The Social Charter of the Americas establishes the basic principle that “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition”.
Among the most important elements of the agreement is the intention to expand “equitable access to comprehensive, quality, people and community centered health services”.
