Reconceptualizing access: advancing pharmaceutical equity for health system resilience in Central and South America

Persistent inequities in access to safe, effective, and affordable medicines continue to challenge health systems across Latin America.1 Despite steady progress toward universal health coverage (UHC), millions continue to incur catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditures for essential medicines.2 Shortages, fragmented procurement processes, and price volatility reveal structural vulnerabilities within pharmaceutical supply chains. Recent disruptions, including pandemics, geopolitical instability, and inflation, have exacerbated these deficiencies, demonstrating that access to medicines is a critical determinant of health system resilience.