Washington, D.C., April 4, 2025 – Representatives from the national health funds of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay have formalized the establishment of the Regional Network of National Health Funds in the Americas (REFSA by its initials in Spanish), a regional initiative launched with the technical support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to enhance the cooperation among countries on the management, allocation, and efficient use of financial resources in the health sector. National health funds are the public entities responsible for the allocation and management of financial resources in the health sector within each country.
The network held its first official meeting on April 4, 2025, marking a milestone in a process that began in 2023, when PAHO facilitated bilateral exchanges between Brazil’s National Health Fund (FNS) and its counterparts across the region. Since then, interest in institutionalizing a permanent space for collaboration has steadily grown, culminating in the adoption of REFSA’s charter and the establishment of its first Steering Committee.
“National health funds face complex challenges that require collaborative, evidence-based solutions. REFSA represents a unique opportunity for countries to share experiences, innovate together, and strengthen their technical capacities in pursuit of more efficient and equitable health systems,” said James Fitzgerald, Director of PAHO’s Department of Health Systems and Services.
REFSA aims to facilitate the exchange of experiences, develop regional public goods, promote technological innovation, and foster transparency and accountability mechanisms—all with the goal of advancing towards more equitable, sustainable, and people-centered health systems.
During the meeting, participating countries discussed REFSA’s strategic work areas for 2025, including:
- Strengthening knowledge exchange and regional collaboration
- Conducting research and comparative analysis of national health funds
- Promoting transparency and accountability mechanisms
- Developing regional public goods for health fund management
- Advancing technological innovation and digitalization
PAHO will serve as the network’s Technical Secretariat, providing methodological and operational support for the development of work plans, facilitating the engagement with other institutions of the United Nations System.
REFSA is established as a permanent initiative and remains open to the inclusion of new public institutions involved in the financial management of the health sector, as well as Observer members and experts who can contribute to the network’s objectives from a technical perspective.
The establishment of REFSA aligns with PAHO’s ongoing efforts to strengthen financial governance in health systems, and advance towards universal access and coverage in the Americas. The network provides a new platform for cooperation to address shared challenges through joint solutions.
