Invest in health systems resilience and mental health in Latin America and the Caribbean

The pandemic had profound impacts on Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) health systems, exposing structural weaknesses but, in turn, it unleashed unprecedented innovations. During this event, Health and Finance ministers from the region, senior government representatives and international agencies, will discuss the need to invest in resilient health systems and the benefits of investing in mental health. The World Bank will also launch the report "Building Resilient Health Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean - Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic".

(Santiago de Chile time zone)

Session 1. Investing in resilient health systems in Latin America and the Caribbean

Opening (09:00 to 09:20 hours)

• Ximena Aguilera, Minister of Health, Chile
• Juan Pablo Uribe, Director of the Global Practice on Health, World Bank
• Carissa Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization

Launch of the World Bank publication: "Building Resilient Health Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean - Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic" (09:20 to 09:40 hours)

• Luis Benveniste, Director for Human Development in LAC, World Bank

Ministerial Panel (09:40 to 10:40 hours)

• José Ruales, Minister of Health of Ecuador
• Marta Eugenia Esquivel, President of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund
• Miguel Rodríguez Viñas, Vice Minister of Strengthening and Development of the Health Sector of the Dominican Republic
• Moderator: Michele Gragnolati, Practice Manager for Health in LAC, World Bank

Coffee break 10:40 - 11:10

Session 2. Building the case for investing in mental health: why and what are the benefits for society?

Presentation (11:10 to 11:40 hours)

• The economic case for investing in mental health by Dévora Kestel, Director of the Department of Mental and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization (WHO)
• Investing in mental health in LAC by Anselm Hennis, Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, Pan American Health Organization, and Daniel Chisholm, Mental Health Economist, Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, WHO

Ministerial Panel (11:40 to 12:40 hours)

• Carolina Corcho, Minister of Health of Colombia
• Carla Vizzotti, Minister of Health of Argentina
• Victor Hernan Martinez, Viceminister of Health of Paraguay
• Vinicius Gaby, University of Sao Paulo Medical School - Brazil, Global Changemakers Fellow, UNICEF Young Leader
• Moderator: Michele Gragnolati, Practice Manager for Health in LAC, World Bank

Closing (12:40 to 12:50 hours)

• Ximena Aguilera, Minister of Health, Chile
• Juan Pablo Uribe, Director of the Global Practice on Health, World Bank

Media activity (12:50 to 13:00 hours)

• Joint statement for investing in health system resilience and mental health in LAC.

• Ximena Aguilera

  Minister of Health of Chile
• Juan Pablo Uribe

  Director of the Global Practice on Health, World Bank
• Carissa Etienne

  Director of the Pan American Health Organization
• Luis Benveniste

  Director for Human Development in LAC, World Bank
• Michele Gragnolati

  Practice Manager for Health in LAC, World Bank
• José Ruales

  Minister of Health of Ecuador
• Marta Eugenia Esquivel

  President of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund
• Miguel Rodríguez Viñas

  Vice Minister of Strengthening and Development of the Health Sector of the Dominican Republic
• Dévora Kestel

  Director of the Department of Mental and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization
• Anselm Hennis

  Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, Pan American Health Organization
• Carolina Corcho

  Minister of Health of Colombia
• Carla Vizzotti

  Minister of Health of Argentina
• Víctor Hernán Martínez

  Viceminister of Health of Paraguay