Essential public health functions for primary health care resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean: a regional assessment

Essential public health functions (EPHFs) and primary care are distinctive yet key components of the Primary Health Care (PHC) approach, and crucial for health system resilience during emergencies. This study revised EPHF implementation gaps and selected areas for strengthening health system resilience in 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries. Using national workshops and a modified Delphi approach, we identified varying levels of EPHF implementation capacity and 20 areas of work for targeted policy and investment. These areas span multiple domains, including surveillance, emergency response, health information systems, policy development, resource allocation, and health equity. The findings highlight the interconnected nature of EPHFs and PHC in building resilient health systems. To operationalize these findings, countries can assess current EPHF implementation capacity and gaps and develop comprehensive action plans as a customizable roadmap, ensuring a structured and evidence-based approach to building resilience while adapting to local requirements.