Achievement of this outcome requires strengthening the capacities of health authorities to lead collective action and processes to change the norms that regulate actors and critical resources affecting universal access to health and universal health coverage, equity, and respect for human rights. The scope of this outcome also includes improving and prioritizing implementation of the essential public health functions, which are understood as the capacities of health authorities, at all institutional levels, together with civil society, to strengthen health systems and guarantee the health of the population, acting on the social determinants and other factors that affect population health. The following are key for the achievement of this outcome:

a) Leadership by the national health authority in the formulation, monitoring, and evaluation of policies, plans, and programs to strengthen health systems, with mechanisms that facilitate social participation and accountability.

b) Formulation, oversight, and implementation of legislation, policies, and regulatory frameworks, according to the national context and consistent with the commitment to universal access to health and universal health coverage, equity, and human rights.

c) Enhancement of competencies and capacities for the regulation of actors, mechanisms, and critical resources that influence health access and outcomes, including risk factors for NCDs and other conditions.

d) Establishment or adjustment of the mechanisms for coordination with other sectors (public, social security, private, nongovernmental) and geographic units (subnational, state, provincial, municipal).

e) Comprehensive management of international cooperation to ensure alignment with national subregional and regional health priorities.

f) Strengthened capacities for the implementation of essential public health functions related to monitoring and evaluation of health and well-being, equity, social determinants of health, and health system performance; promotion of social participation and mobilization; inclusion of strategic actors and transparency; improvement of access to public health services and interventions with a PHC approach; and management and promotion of interventions on the social determinants of health.

Note: For further details on the scope of this Outcome, please refer to the PAHO Strategic Plan 20-25 Document.