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LAC Facing Major Financial and Human Losses without Urgent Primary Health Care

Healthcare

BusinessHonor - LAC Health Crisis Demands Urgent Care

Business Honor
30 September, 2025

Urgent PHC improvements are needed in LAC to save people and billions in economic losses during crises.

Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) nations face major financial and human losses if they do not immediately transform their primary health care (PHC) systems, based on recent World Bank and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) research. According to the report introduced during PAHO's 62nd Directing Council, the region could lose US$7–37 billion in economic losses and suffer up to 165,000 premature deaths. If PHC services decrease by 25–50% for a period of one to five years as a result of a crisis like a pandemic or natural disaster.

They may include over 149,000 deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), 11,300 maternal deaths, and 10,000 child deaths. Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, the director of PAHO, highlighted the need for resilience and strong PHC. "Resilience is not a luxury; it is a need for economic growth, stable society, and life safety," he stated. Confirming availability of fair and complete health care, strengthening public health operations, working across sectors, and securing lasting funding are the five steps that the Commission on Public Health desires government to carry out.

According to the paper, resilience is the ability of health systems to keep offering basic services prior to, during, and after disasters such as pandemics, hurricanes, or outbreaks of diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed many weaknesses in the local healthcare systems, resulting in a 50% decline in services like chronic care and vaccination. The report ends with a positive note by picturing a future where health care is available to all and ready for emergencies, transforming risk into resilience across the region.