Washington, DC, January 7, 2026 (PAHO) – The Pan American Journal of Public Health, the scientific publication of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), recently published a special issue dedicated to strengthening primary health care to address noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the Americas.
Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death in the Region of the Americas, accounting for more than 2.2 million deaths annually, and pose a critical challenge to health systems, economic development, and social equity. The absolute number of cases has continued to rise, while the decline in mortality has slowed since the mid-2010s, jeopardizing progress toward the goal of reducing premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases by 30% by 2030.
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of premature morbidity and mortality globally, with hypertension as their main modifiable risk factor. In Latin America and the Caribbean, hypertension affects more than 30% of adults, yet control rates remain alarmingly low. The HEARTS in the Americas Initiative, led by the Pan American Health Organization, promotes a model of team-based care to enhance risk management for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases within primary health care.
To independently evaluate the World Health Organization (WHO) Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) application, focusing on the diagnostic performance of its underlying artificial intelligence model for leprosy detection. The primary objective was to determine the proportion of images in which leprosy appeared among the model’s Top-5 diagnostic predictions. The secondary objective was to qualitatively analyze diagnostic error patterns.
To monitor compliance with national sodium reduction targets for prepackaged foods marketed in Costa Rica, and to compare it with current international standards.
This article critically examines commensurability in public health – that is, the possibility of comparing phenomena according to a common standard, using indicators – as well as the scope and limits of such comparability when it is mistaken for complete understanding. It proposes a brief audit framework for constructing and interpreting indicators when commensurability is partial, using the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) as an example.
To apply the NOA method, which integrates the dimensions of need, opportunity, and accessibility, to evaluate the effectiveness of kidney, liver, pancreas, heart, and lung transplants in Brazil.
HEARTS Pharmacy, a project within the HEARTS in the Americas Initiative, provides a framework to integrate pharmacists into primary health care. Pharmacists are highly respected in health care but face challenges, such as limited scope of practice, regulatory barriers, and insufficient recognition, compounded by social norms that hinder their full potential. This paper presents compelling evidence that pharmacist-led interventions improve blood pressure control, lower cardiovascular risk, and reduce health care costs.
To analyze the roles, responsibilities and scope of current government chief nursing and midwifery officers or equivalent senior leaders in the Region of the Americas.
Spirometry is essential for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with noncommunicable chronic respiratory diseases; however, it was not available in primary health care in Brazil. This article describes the implementation of telespirometry in primary health care units across 163 Brazilian cities.
