International organizations support the implementation of the Ten-Year Health Plan 2022-2031 – Ministry of Public Health

2023-08-07 22:39:49

Quito, August 7, 2023

This August 7, 2023, the Minister of Health, José Ruales, led a working meeting in which the Ten-Year Health Plan (PDS) 2022-2031 was presented to international organizations and agencies. At the meeting, he received the support of various international organizations and agencies for the implementation of the PDS, which constitutes a State policy that transforms the vision and approach of public health in the country.

The health authority highlighted the collective and dynamic construction based on intersectoral work and focus on social determinants. He added that “with this plan we seek to maintain a public policy that is sustained over time.”

The PDS was built with the participation of approximately 700 key actors and citizens to face public health challenges, in a process that had the cooperation and technical advice of PAHO/WHO.

In the document, five clear objectives are positioned, among them, to reduce inequalities and inequities in access and right to health; promote the well-being of the population at all stages of life; prevent preventable disease and death; guarantee access to comprehensive and quality health services; and consolidate an efficient health system at the service of the population.

Óscar Barreneche, representative of the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), for his part, pointed out that “this forum of cooperators is a space to share this plan that analyzed structural and critical health problems to give integral solution; for us it is essential to align support for this type of strategy”.

José Ruales explained that this document focuses on priority care groups with a comprehensive approach to prevention and health promotion. The construction of the document is guided by lines of action, among which are equity, solidarity, the right to health, universality, and social inclusion.

Referring to the construction of the plan, the Minister of Health indicated that he had an initial phase of data collection for the analysis of the problem and strategy approach, followed by the consultation of experts from the health sector, academia, institutions from other sectors. He also went through a participation process for the proposal and specific observations, the publication of the ministerial agreement and finally the adoption as a State policy.

Also present at the meeting were representatives of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF ), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Embassy of Canada, European Union, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF).