PAHO expands partnerships with Barcelona institutions to drive innovation and strengthen health systems in the Americas. Caribnews November 2, 2026 3 minutes read 14 views PAHO signs new framework cooperation agreement with the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) BARCELONA, Spain, (PAHO) - The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) strengthened its cooperation with institutions in Catalonia during a visit to Barcelona by its director, Dr Jarbas Barbosa, from October 30 to November 2. PAHO signed two letters of intent, with the government of Catalonia and Hospital Clínic Barcelona, respectively, and a new framework cooperation agreement with the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). The agreements aim to drive innovation, strengthen health systems, and promote scientific research in priority areas for countries in the Americas. The agenda also included meetings with scientific and health institutions to explore new opportunities for cooperation. During the visit, Dr Barbosa met with the president of the government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, and the minister of health, Olga Pané, with whom he signed a letter of intent to continue the cooperation initiated in 2012 and expand joint work in priority areas for health systems in the Americas. The letter identifies six priority areas for cooperation: primary health care and hospital management; digital health and health technology assessment; human resources for health; intermediate care and healthy aging; high-cost medicines and shared decision-making; and climate change, resilience, and sustainability of health facilities. These priorities are aligned with Catalonia's new Health Plan - Horizon 2035, which promotes prevention, the reduction of inequalities, and the transformation of health services toward more integrated, people-centered models. Partnerships in research and innovation The agenda included the signing of cooperation agreements and meetings with leading institutions in health research and innovation, with the aim of connecting their scientific and technical expertise with the health needs of Latin America and the Caribbean. Areas of work range from communicable diseases and cardiometabolic health to advanced therapies and applications of artificial intelligence and supercomputing in public health. At the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), the PAHO Director signed a new framework cooperation agreement to promote research and scientific cooperation in public health across the Americas, with a particular focus on disease elimination, climate change and health, innovation, and strengthening health capacities and systems. PAHO also signed a letter of intent with Hospital Clínic Barcelona to explore opportunities for cooperation to strengthen the capacities of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in advanced therapies, including their research, development, assessment, production, and implementation. The agenda also included visits to the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, where the participants explored applications of supercomputing and artificial intelligence in public health, and to the CaixaResearch Institute of the "la Caixa" Foundation, to exchange perspectives on biomedical innovation and potential areas for collaboration. Cooperation with other Catalan institutions The agenda also included meetings with representatives of other Catalan institutions with which PAHO collaborates on initiatives to improve access to health services and strengthen health systems. These include the FC Barcelona Foundation and the DTI Foundation, which work to promote access to health care in remote communities through the use of drones and to strengthen organ donation and transplantation systems.

PAHO and Special Olympics International sign framework agreement to advance inclusive health for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the Americas. Dated: October 28, 2026 The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Special Olympics International (SOI) have signed a Framework Agreement to strengthen cooperation on health systems that are inclusive of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across the Region of the Americas. The agreement, signed on 26 October 2026 in Washington, D.C., is intended to address persistent health inequities affecting people with IDD by improving accessibility, data, and preparedness within national health systems. PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa and SOI Chief Health Officer Dr. Dimitri Christakis signed the Framework Agreement. PAHO said the initiative reflects its commitment to "leaving no one behind" and aims to support equal access to health services through disability-inclusive systems. Background: health inequities for people with IDD. People with disabilities account for nearly 16% of the global population, or around 1.3 billion people, PAHO said in its news release. Despite progress in many countries, people with disabilities continue to face health inequities. PAHO highlighted barriers that can limit health access for people with IDD, including limited accessibility of facilities, communication challenges, insufficient training among health personnel, and financial constraints. The release also cited evidence that people with disabilities can be up to four times more likely to die during disasters and emergencies compared with people without disabilities. What the Framework Agreement does. Under the agreement, SOI will provide technical inputs to support joint work plans. PAHO said SOI will also share data and best practices to strengthen health systems for people with IDD. SOI will further engage PAHO and Member States in health initiatives across global, regional, and community levels, while contributing to efforts to raise awareness of barriers faced by people with IDD. PAHO, for its part, will provide technical cooperation aligned with agreed work plans and facilitate collaboration with ministries of health, health professionals, and institutions. Priority areas for inclusive health systems. PAHO said its work under the Framework Agreement will integrate disability inclusion into health systems through four priority areas. These include promoting equitable and accessible healthcare, strengthening emergency preparedness and response, improving disability data collection, and advancing community-based inclusive development. The partnership is described as building on broader disability-inclusion frameworks, including the WHO Disability Inclusion Guide for Action, which outlines a cycle for preparing, assessing, designing, and implementing inclusive health strategies. PAHO said the work is also aligned with a World Health Assembly resolution on achieving the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities. Expected results and implementation approach. The Framework Agreement is designed to support more inclusive health systems and improve access to services through strengthened cooperation and knowledge-sharing, PAHO said. The agreement also anticipates evidence-based approaches to address inequities affecting people with IDD. PAHO's release indicates the coordination model will focus on joint work plans, technical cooperation, and collaboration with ministries and health institutions to translate disability inclusion into health system practices. It also emphasizes strengthening disability data collection and emergency preparedness - areas linked in the release to longer-term resilience and reduced vulnerability during crises. Why the partnership matters for regional health work. For NGOs and development partners working in the Americas, disability-inclusive health systems are closely tied to broader goals on health equity, rights-based service delivery, and preparedness for emergencies. PAHO's outlined priority areas reflect common barriers reported in many health systems, including gaps in accessibility and training, as well as data limitations that can hinder inclusive planning. The Framework Agreement also signals how partnerships with specialist civil society and sports-based organizations like SOI can contribute technical expertise and community-level engagement to health system strengthening efforts. Key details. * Initiative or programme: Framework Agreement to strengthen cooperation on health systems inclusive of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) * Lead organization: Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) * Partners: Special Olympics International (SOI) * Funding amount: Not specified in the source material * Geographic focus: Region of the Americas * Target groups: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD); health systems and services serving people with disabilities * Duration or timeline: Not specified in the source material * Expected reach or outcomes: Strengthened cooperation and technical collaboration to reduce health inequities for people with IDD through inclusive healthcare, emergency preparedness, disability data collection, and community-based inclusive development Why This matters. This announcement is relevant to development practitioners because it outlines a practical model for disability inclusion in health systems: combining joint work planning, technical cooperation, data and best-practice sharing, and coordination with ministries of health. For NGOs and civil society organizations, it highlights priority areas - accessible care, disability data, and emergency preparedness - where program design and advocacy can align with health system reforms. The Framework Agreement also reflects a broader shift toward operationalizing disability inclusion in core health functions rather than treating disability as a standalone theme. Partnerships like PAHO-SOI can offer opportunities for knowledge exchange and community-level engagement, while also reinforcing the importance of using established guidance such as the WHO Disability Inclusion Guide for Action to inform inclusive strategies. For grantmakers and policymakers, the emphasis on integrating disability inclusion into health systems signals where technical support and institutional capacity-building may be most needed to improve access and reduce inequities.