The Communicable Diseases cluster comprises OCM4 (Response capacity for communicable diseases), OCM12 (Risk factors for communicable diseases), and OCM17 (Elimination of communicable diseases). It shows a 3% increase in its PB24–25 allocation compared to the 2022–2023 biennium. According to the prioritization results, OCM12 is a high-priority outcome, OCM4 is a medium-priority outcome, and OCM17 is a low-priority outcome. The increase in budget will allow PASB to advance the Disease Elimination Initiative and work with countries and territories to strengthen and expand immunization coverage across the Region, while also addressing the root causes of disease transmission and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance through a One Health approach.
The Determinants of Health and Crosscutting Themes cluster consists of OCM18 (Social and environmental determinants), OCM19 (Health promotion and intersectoral action), and OCM26 (Cross-cutting themes: equity, ethnicity, gender, and human rights). It shows an overall increase of 7% in comparison with PB22–23. This increase is consistent with the prioritization results, resource mobilization prospects, and PASB focus for the 2024–2025 biennium. The additional budget, with commensurate funding, will catalyze efforts to close gaps consistent with the commitment to ensure that no one is left behind.
The Health Emergencies cluster comprises three high-priority outcomes: OCM23 (Health emergencies preparedness and risk reduction), OCM24 (Epidemic and pandemic prevention and control), and OCM25 (Health emergencies detection and response). All three are aligned with multiple areas of focus for the PB24–25. As a cluster, these three outcomes show an increase of 3%, considering that funding to respond to COVID-19 will decrease as the Region enters the recovery phase of the pandemic. The increase in budget is important for continuing to strengthen Member States’ capacities for preparedness, prevention, and response to health emergencies and for building resilient health systems, considering the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, PASB will expand the Safe/Resilient Hospitals initiative. It is noted that this cluster of outcomes had a significant increase ($25.7 million) in the revised budget for 2022–2023 considering recommendations from the pandemic independent panel review.
The Health Systems, Services and Life Course cluster, composed of eight outcomes, presents an overall increase of 5% in comparison with PB22–23. It includes two high-priority outcomes, OCM1 (Access to comprehensive and quality health services) and OCM7 (Health workforce); three medium-priority outcomes, OCM2 (Health throughout the life course), OCM8 (Access to health technologies), and OCM10 (Increased public financing for health); and three low-priority outcomes, OCM3 (Quality care for older people), OCM9 (Strengthened stewardship and governance), and OCM11 (Strengthened financial protection). Through this outcome cluster, PASB will work to advance progress toward universal health, with access to services throughout the life course. This can only be accomplished if countries build strong and resilient health systems based on primary health care.
The Information Systems, Evidence and Research cluster, with three outcomes, has an overall increase of 4% for the 2024–2025 budget allocation as compared with the 2022–2023 allocation. OCM20 (Integrated information systems for health) saw a surge of demand during the pandemic period, reflecting the need to build capacity to improve monitoring and dissemination of high-quality information for better decision making; accordingly, this outcome shifted from medium priority in PB22–23 to high priority in PB24–25. In line with the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the areas of focus mentioned above, PASB will support Member States in advancing digital transformation and information systems for health, as well as ensuring use of timely, reliable, and disaggregated data for decision making. OCM20 is closely related to OCM21 (Data, information, knowledge, and evidence) and OCM22 (Research, ethics and innovation for health), which complement its funding, since data and innovation are integral to strengthening information systems for health.
The NCDs and Risk Factors, Mental Health, Violence, and Injuries cluster presents a 5% increase for PB24–25 in comparison to PB22–23. This growth is driven by the increase in budget for OCM5 (Access to services for NCDs and mental health conditions), OCM13 (Risk factors for NCDs), OCM14 (Malnutrition), and OCM16 (Intersectoral action on mental health), all rated as high or medium priority. OCM5 and OCM13 have been consistently among the highest-ranked priorities for Member States, as the epidemiological transition that is underway in the Region increases the prevalence of NCDs. The budget increase will also enable PASB to support Member States to respond to the urgent need for attention to mental health, which emerged as a lesson learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. OCM6 (Response capacity for violence and injuries) and OCM15 (Intersectoral response to violence and injuries) have no budget increase from the previous biennium due to a low prioritization result.
The Leadership, Governance, and Enabling Functions cluster shows no growth in budget from the previous biennium. The two outcomes in this cluster, OCM27 (Leadership and governance) and OCM28 (Management and administration), are not rated in the prioritization exercise. In order to accomplish more with effectively fewer resources, considering the impact of inflation, PASB will continue to implement strategies and innovations to strengthen its enabling functions and enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability. The budget envelope for this cluster increased $2.9 million as part of the amendments to the PB22–23 to enhance accountability and address prevention and response to sexual exploitation and harassment.
