Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), emphasised the importance of international cooperation on health issues such as emergency preparedness, cervical cancer elimination, and regional production of medicines during his recent official visits to Belgium and Spain. His discussions with European Union (EU) and Spanish health officials focused on bolstering ties to improve health systems and address critical challenges in the Americas.

From October 14-15, Dr. Barbosa met with senior EU officials, including members of the European Parliament, Laurent Muschel, Acting Director-General of the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, and Feliz Fernandez-Shaw, Director for Latin America, the Caribbean, and Overseas Countries and Territories at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA).

During the meetings, Dr. Barbosa underscored PAHO’s long-standing commitment to emergency prevention, preparedness, and response, while also stressing the need for greater regional collaboration to enhance the organization's support to its member countries.

“The Region of the Americas has been disproportionately impacted by epidemics and pandemics in recent decades, with devastating consequences for health systems, economies, and communities,” said Dr. Barbosa. He added that PAHO greatly values the collaboration of the EU in tackling these challenges, including its efforts to help strengthen health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic, build climate-resilient health infrastructure, address antimicrobial resistance, and improve healthcare access for migrants.

Continuing his visit in Spain from October 16-17, Dr. Barbosa held talks with Dr. Monica Garcia, Spain's Minister of Health, and other high-ranking officials from the country's health sector. The discussions highlighted Spain’s ongoing collaboration with PAHO, especially in the areas of cervical cancer elimination and ensuring health services for migrants in the Darien region.

“Spain and PAHO share key values, such as universal health access and a commitment to leaving no one behind,” Dr. Barbosa noted. “We are eager to work together to make the Americas the first region in the world to eliminate a cancer, and to ensure that migrants, displaced persons, and Indigenous populations have access to essential health services.”

The PAHO Director also met with Anton Leis, Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), and Maria Jesus Lamas, Director of the Spanish Agency for Medicine and Health Products, to discuss strengthening regulatory authorities in Latin America and the Caribbean. He emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in boosting local manufacturing capacity for medicines and health technologies, which is essential for pandemic preparedness and response.

Reflecting on the discussions, Dr. Barbosa said, “We know what needs to be done to address the region’s most pressing health issues. This involves implementing policies for inclusive economic growth, investing in social infrastructure and quality health education, and reinforcing health care systems based on primary health care. We look forward to continuing collaboration with our European partners to achieve these goals.”

Dr. Barbosa’s visit to Belgium and Spain highlights PAHO’s commitment to fostering strong international partnerships aimed at improving the health and well-being of communities across the Americas.