Without it, we are more vulnerable to economic and political instability.
Now, more than ever, we must rebuild with the vision of health for all as our guide.
But we cannot forget that health 🩺 is an investment, not an expense.
As we learned with COVID-19, health is at the core of vibrant societies.
It keeps people working, kids 👦🏾👧🏻 in schools, companies productive and economies growing.
@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19
Insufficient public investments in health threaten our ability to recover from this pandemic 🦠 and could have ripple effects for years to come.
As economies remain strained, countries 🌎 face tough choices about how to spend limited funds.
@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19
We also need greater dialogue between health, finance institutions & industry partners as well as civil society, so decisions affecting our health systems reflect the expertise of our health authorities, & that health policies are transparent, harmonized, & efficient @DirOPSPAHO
But it’s not just about spending more 💰, it’s about spending smart – that’s why governance is key.
Our health systems 🏥 should be properly managed and guided by evidence to ensure they are effective and can keep us safe.
@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19
Financial institutions are making additional loans available, and donors are pledging their support, so there’s never been a better time for countries 🌎 to take advantage of these resources to maximize their public investments in health 🩺
@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19
Increased ⬆️ public investments were key during the pandemic and will be so after it recedes.
All countries 🌎 should increase public expenditures to the recommended 6% of GDP or higher in their health systems 🏥, and they should ensure that 30% of this funding goes to the first level of care.
Bolivia 🇧🇴 pledged that 10% of public expenditures would go to health over five years.
But this cannot be a short-term trend.
Chile 🇨🇱, for example, had the highest increase in primary care spending in 15 years.
Uruguay 🇺🇾 approved extending national health insurance to workers that lost their jobs.
Peru 🇵🇪 posted a 13% increase in its health budget to prioritize primary care.
