Guatemala joins the Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas to strengthen its health system

Washington, DC, March 20, 2026 (PAHO) - Guatemala has officially joined the Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas, a regional initiative led by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the World Bank (WB) to accelerate the transformation of health systems through investment, innovation, and strategic coordination centered on primary health care.

In a hybrid ceremony, Guatemala's Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS), PAHO, the IDB, and the World Bank signed the agreement establishing the Advisory Group for Primary Health Care in Guatemala (APS-GT). This strategic coordination platform will facilitate high-level policy and technical dialogue among national and international institutions and ensure alignment with national priorities, creating synergy to strengthen a more resilient, equitable, and people-centered health system.

"I would like to congratulate the Government of Guatemala, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, and its authorities on this decision. With this step, Guatemala joins a group of ten countries in the Region that are driving key transformations to strengthen Primary Health Care as the foundation of more integrated, resilient, and people- and community-centered health systems," said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director, who participated virtually in the ceremony.

Dr. Barbosa noted that the Region is facing profound demographic and epidemiological transitions, as well as a growing burden of chronic diseases, among other challenges affecting health. "In this context, strengthening Primary Health Care is a strategic priority for governance, the health and well-being of our populations, and sustainable development," he emphasized.

"This Alliance opens a window for us to align national and international objectives, with technical and political support to achieve universal health coverage based on primary health care and an integrated network of health services. We will modernize and become part of the digital transformation that our health system urgently needs," said Dr. Joaquín Barnoya Pérez, Guatemala's Minister of Health.

Under the Alliance's framework, Guatemala will prioritize key initiatives to strengthen its health system: modernizing health information systems; consolidating service networks and the Comprehensive and Inclusive Care Model based on health service networks; implementing telekits and telemedicine tools to expand access in areas with greater geographic challenges, which is in line with the digital transformation of the health sector; and strengthening care for noncommunicable diseases through initiatives such as HEARTS at the primary care level.

Michele Gragnolato, Practice Manager for Health, Nutrition and Population for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank, stated: "The Alliance for Primary Health Care reflects a shared commitment to strengthening technical and strategic dialogue in Guatemala's health sector. The Crecer Sano Project, supported by the World Bank, aligns with the principles of the Alliance and with what the Ministry of Health is promoting. We welcome this decision, which translates into strengthening the system for the benefit of all citizens."

"Primary health care is the foundation of a system that reaches people when and where they need it most. It is where prevention happens, where conditions are detected early, and where families are supported throughout their lives," said María José Jarquín, IDB Representative in Guatemala.

The Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas, launched in December 2023, already includes Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, El Salvador, Panama, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and now Guatemala. Brazil has also expressed its support for the Alliance through the signing of a letter of intent in January 2026. The initiative seeks to position primary health care as a fundamental pillar of resilient, people-centered health systems by aligning investment, innovation, and strategic coordination across the Region.

The newly established Advisory Table will serve as a permanent platform to align international cooperation with national priorities, exchange experiences, and move toward specific agreements that strengthen the problem-solving capacity of Guatemala's health system, accelerate universal health coverage, and help reduce gaps in access to health services across the country.