Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) – such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases – represent the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Region of the Americas. Their growing burden poses significant challenges for health systems, especially in contexts of inequity and limited access to quality services.
Against this backdrop, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) promotes the strengthening of Primary Health Care (PHC) as a fundamental axis for early detection, timely treatment, and comprehensive monitoring of these conditions.
Within the framework of the "Better Care for NCDs" initiative, PAHO has identified and validated various good practices implemented in countries of the Region, which have proven to be effective in strengthening the diagnosis, treatment, and comprehensive management of NCDs, especially from the first level of care. These actions are aligned with the commitments adopted by Member States at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) high-level meetings on NCDs, and seek to accelerate progress towards more resilient, equitable, and people-centered health systems.
This third virtual seminar—part of a regional series organized by PAHO—presented successful experiences validated by the Organization, available on the Portal of Good Practices in Public Health. The highlighted initiatives have succeeded in improving surveillance, NCD monitoring, and digital health, as well as generating useful evidence for decision-making.
- To make visible and recognize good practices aimed at strengthening the surveillance and monitoring of NCDs and their risk factors.
- Promote the use of data for the planning, management, and evaluation of public health policies.
- Facilitate the exchange of experiences between countries in the region, promoting horizontal learning and technical cooperation.
- Encourage the use of the Good Practices Portal as a tool for the dissemination of evidence, the scaling up of successful interventions, and informed decision-making.
- To make visible experiences in digital health that strengthen the prevention and care of NCDs, improve the continuity of care, and expand access in underserved populations, in alignment with PAHO's regional digital transformation frameworks.
- Opening remarks
- Public Health Surveillance to Strengthen the Comprehensive Response to NCDs and their Risk Factors
- Argentina: Cardiovascular Emergency Network Program
- Brazil: Innovation in Digital Health – Telehealth and telediagnosis centers in remote areas.
- Chile: Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Optimize Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Primary Health Care in Chile
- Guatemala: "KANOXïK" data intelligence health tool for the early detection of occult kidney disease in Guatemala
- Questions and answers from participants
- Closure
- Anselm Hennis, Director, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, PAHO
- Dr. Roberta Caixeta, Advisor, Surveillance, Prevention and Control of NCDs, PAHO
- Dr. Eduardo Esteban LLempen Ibáñez, Cardiologist of the Ministry of Health of the Province of Tucumán, Government of Argentina
- Dr. João Pedro Braga, technical consultant, Secretariat of Information and Digital Health (SEIDIGI)/ Department of Digital Health and Innovation (DESD), Ministry of Health of Brazil
- Dr. Rodrigo Silva Amaral, technical consultant, Secretariat of Information and Digital Health (SEIDIGI)/ Department of Digital Health and Innovation (DESD), Ministry of Health of Brazil
- Dr. Marcela Rivera, Ministry of Health of Chile
- Dr. Fernando Barría, Director of the Ophthalmology Unit at Hospital Digital and leader in the use of AI for diabetic retinopathy screening.
- Dr. Santiago Torales, Chief of Renal Function Replacement Therapies - AMEDIGSS, UNOPS Guatemala
- Dr. Silvana Luciani, Unit Chief of Noncommunicable Diseases, Violence Prevention and Injuries, PAHO