World Health Day (WHD) 2023 finds that countries in the Americas region, including Ecuador, are revitalizing health policies and programs that enable the recovery of progress toward “health for all,” which was slowed and delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Globally, the problem is alarming and requires urgent joint action: 30% of the world’s population does not have access to basic health services; and approximately 2 billion people face catastrophic or impoverishing health expenditures, with significant inequalities affecting those in the most vulnerable settings.

For these reasons, this year the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) propose – for DMS – the motto “health for all”, reminding that all people must have access to the health care services they need when and where they need them. , without going through financial difficulties. For this, it is essential that countries increase investments in healthcare. Both to promote solid and integrated health systems, and to build a healthy living environment.

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On the one hand, building integrated and robust national health systems allows the population to be offered universal health coverage and prepared to respond to emergency situations. In this sense, a call is made to reaffirm the commitment to primary health care (PHC) as the cornerstone of sustainable and resilient health systems that move towards universal coverage and universal access to health, as well as alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ).

It is important to emphasize that the slogan “health for all” is also rooted in the community and territory in our region. Both social and political leadership supporting the right to health, as well as initiatives to strengthen health systems from a PHC approach, must adopt a strong perspective and territorial ownership. For this reason, among the various policies and programs with which PAHO/WHO collaborates in Ecuador, networks of integrated health services (RISS) are currently being built and promoted, together with the Ministry of Public Health (MPH), since this is one of the main operational terms of access to PHC, which will enable increasing resilience and expanding health coverage.

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At the same time, it is also imperative to increase public funding to reduce out-of-pocket spending and advance joint efforts to build a healthy living environment focused on health promotion and education. On this path, which can change people’s lives by promoting their well-being in health, Ecuador has taken important steps through the construction and implementation of the ten-year health plan 2022-2031, a strategic framework that changes the vision of public health in the country and that allows the implementation of strategies and programs with with which PAHO/WHO collaborates in the search for universal health.

In conclusion, on this World Health Day, PAHO/WHO confirm Ecuador’s commitment to technical cooperation to strengthen health services, but also to build a country with a healthy environment. Only then will we move towards a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world, where people enjoy fulfilling lives and, consequently, health for all. (OR)