Health in the Americas shows disease elimination progress amid fiscal challenges

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and international financial institutions have reported significant progress and emerging challenges in health across the Americas for the 2025–2026 period.

PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa highlighted achievements in disease elimination, noting that Brazil and the Bahamas have eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The Turks and Caicos Islands became the first territory in the region to validate the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, while Chile was verified as having eliminated leprosy. Additionally, five provinces in Argentina were confirmed free of vector-borne Chagas disease.

However, the 'Health Outlook: Latin America and the Caribbean 2026' report, produced by the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, and the OECD, warns of fiscal constraints and rising healthcare demands. Experts urge regional leaders to “spend better rather than spend more,” noting that health budgets may double or triple by 2050. The report also points to disparities in care quality, noting that hospital mortality rates for cardiovascular attacks are significantly higher in countries like Paraguay and Mexico compared to the OECD average.