Regional technical networks: a platform for cooperation to strengthen key capacities of health systems

Washington, D.C., January 20, 2026 - In a context of increasingly complex and unequal health systems, strengthening capacities and promoting spaces for articulation among institutions, teams, and experiences around shared challenges is essential. In this scenario, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has been promoting and consolidating regional technical networks that function as platforms for cooperation, exchange, and action, aimed at strengthening key components of health systems.

The Network on Essential Public Health Functions (RedFESP), the Network of National Health Funds of the Americas (REFSA), and the Network to Advance Integrated Health Service Delivery Networks (Impulsa-RISS) express this approach: spaces that bring together actors, knowledge, and practices to advance, from different angles, the strengthening of health systems in the Region.

The networks promoted by PAHO share a central objective: to strengthen institutional and technical capacities in strategic areas. With different emphases, RedFESP, REFSA, and Impulsa-RISS facilitate the analysis of shared challenges, the development of technical inputs, and learning from concrete implementation experiences.

From this complementary perspective, the three networks address critical and complementary dimensions of health systems. RedFESP focuses on strengthening the essential public health functions, with an emphasis on institutional capacities, stewardship, and governance. REFSA brings togheter national health funds to exchange experiences and advance improvements in financing mechanisms, allocation, and use of resources. Impulsa-RISS convenes teams and institutions involved in service organization, with a focus on integration, primary health care, and the transformation of care models.

Since their establishment, these networks have been coordinating shared technical agendas and consolidating stable spaces for collaboration among institutions responsible for key functions of health systems. In this process, RedFESP, REFSA, and Impulsa-RISS are shaping up as technical communities that connect territories, capacities, and agendas, seeking to translate regional exchange into applicable learning and the strengthening of national capacities.

Through these platforms, the Organization seeks to accompany national efforts in a more integrated and continuous manner, aimed at building stronger, more integrated health systems centered on the needs of populations.

More information:

• RedFESP: Network on Essential Public Health Functions (EPHF) - https://www.paho.org/en/network-essential-public-health-functions-ephf
• REFSA: Network of National Health Funds of the Americas - https://www.paho.org/en/news/4-4-2025-countries-americas-establish-network-strengthen-management-national-health-funds
• Impulsa-RISS: Network to Advance Integrated Health Service Delivery Networks - https://www.paho.org/en/network-advance-integrated-health-service-delivery-networks-impulsa-riss