Report on the Pan American Health Organization’s “Best Buys for Disease Elimination” Initiative

Introduction: A Strategic Tool to Accelerate Progress on Sustainable Development Goal 3

On October 1, 2025, at the 62nd Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a new technical tool was presented to aid countries in the Americas in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), specifically Target 3.3, which calls for an end to the epidemics of communicable diseases by 2030. The “Best Buys for Disease Elimination” is an evidence-based guide designed to accelerate the elimination of over 30 communicable diseases and related conditions. This initiative directly supports the global 2030 Agenda by providing a clear roadmap for improving health and well-being across the region.

Framework and Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals

Core Principles for Achieving SDG 3 and SDG 10

The “Best Buys” guide is founded on principles of efficiency and equity, crucial for sustainable development. By promoting the efficient use of resources and prioritizing populations in vulnerable situations, the initiative directly addresses SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) alongside its primary focus on SDG 3. The framework targets a wide range of health challenges, including:

• Vaccine-preventable diseases
• Neglected tropical and zoonotic diseases
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Vector-borne diseases
• Tuberculosis and cervical cancer

Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director, emphasized that achieving these elimination goals requires a multi-faceted approach. Key strategies integral to advancing the SDGs include:

• Increasing and sustaining high vaccination coverage.
• Engaging communities to expand access to diagnosis and treatment.
• Strengthening disease surveillance systems.
• Bringing integrated health services to marginalized communities, incarcerated populations, and those in informal settlements.

Operationalizing the “Best Buys”: A Case Study on Malaria Elimination

Measurable Targets and Interventions for SDG 3.3

The “Best Buys” tool provides concise, one-page documents for each disease, outlining clear targets and interventions. The approach for malaria serves as a prime example of how the framework operationalizes the objectives of SDG 3.3.

Key Operational Indicators

To achieve the elimination target of zero new indigenous malaria cases for three consecutive years, the guide establishes the following key performance indicators:

1. Maintain test positivity rates below 5%.
2. Ensure more than 70% of cases are diagnosed and treated within 72 hours of symptom onset.
3. Guarantee that over 80% of cases are investigated and classified in relevant areas.

Priority Cost-Effective Interventions

The guide recommends several proven, cost-effective interventions to accelerate malaria elimination and ensure the sustainability of these achievements:

• Expanding access to rapid diagnostic tests and timely treatment at all levels of care.
• Engaging communities in early detection efforts.
• Consolidating malaria-free territories through microplanning.
• Distributing insecticide-treated nets at no cost.
• Strengthening surveillance to respond effectively to imported cases.

Regional Progress and the Importance of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

National Successes and Collaborative Learning

The briefing highlighted Suriname’s significant achievement in eliminating malaria transmission, demonstrating the tangible impact of targeted strategies aligned with the SDGs. Experiences shared by delegates from Guyana, Paraguay, and Suriname underscored the effectiveness of implementing the “Best Buys” through integrated care for vulnerable populations and intersectoral partnerships. This collaborative approach is a core tenet of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

A Multi-Stakeholder Tool for Sustainable Impact

The “Best Buys” documents are designed to support a wide array of stakeholders, including decision-makers, program managers, health workers, and international partners. By strengthening strategic planning, coordination, and the efficient allocation of resources, the initiative fosters the collaborative action required under SDG 17 to achieve the ambitious targets of the 2030 Agenda.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article’s central theme is the elimination of over 30 communicable diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, and cervical cancer. This directly aligns with the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. The PAHO “Best Buys for Disease Elimination” initiative is a clear strategy to achieve better health outcomes in the Region of the Americas.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The article explicitly states that the guide “highlights the efficient use of resources and prioritizing populations in vulnerable situations.” Dr. Jarbas Barbosa emphasizes the need to “bring integrated services to marginalized communities, incarcerated populations, and those living in informal settlements.” This focus on providing equitable health access to the most vulnerable groups directly addresses the goal of reducing inequalities within and among countries.

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The initiative is presented as a collaborative effort. The “Best Buys” documents are designed for a wide range of stakeholders, including “decision-makers, program managers, technical teams, health workers, cooperation agencies, partners, and donors.” The article also mentions that delegates from Guyana, Paraguay, and Suriname shared experiences on implementing strategies that involved “intersectoral partnerships.” This highlights the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration to achieve the health goals, which is the core of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.3: “By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.” The article directly mentions PAHO’s initiative to eliminate “tuberculosis,” “neglected tropical and zoonotic diseases,” “sexually transmitted infections,” and “vector-borne diseases” like malaria by 2030.
   • Target 3.b: “Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines… provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines…” The initiative focuses on eliminating “vaccine-preventable diseases” and calls for increasing and sustaining “high vaccination coverage.” It also promotes cost-effective interventions, such as distributing “insecticide-treated nets at no cost.”

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all…” The article’s focus on bringing “integrated services to marginalized communities, incarcerated populations, and those living in informal settlements” is a direct effort to ensure health inclusion for these specific, often-excluded groups.

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.16: “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships…” The PAHO initiative itself is a regional partnership, and the article highlights the tool’s use by “cooperation agencies, partners, and donors” and the implementation of “intersectoral partnerships” by member countries, which perfectly aligns with this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG Target 3.3 (End epidemics)

   • The article provides very specific indicators for malaria elimination, which serve as direct measures of progress:
     • Elimination Target Indicator: “Zero new indigenous cases of transmission for three consecutive years.”
     • Operational Indicator: “Keeping test positivity rates below 5%.”
     • Operational Indicator: “Ensuring that more than 70% of cases are diagnosed and treated within the first 72 hours of symptom onset.”
     • Operational Indicator: “Guaranteeing that over 80% of cases are investigated and classified in areas working towards malaria elimination or at risk of reestablishment.”

2. Indicators for SDG Target 3.b (Access to vaccines and medicines)

   • An indicator is implied through the statement that it is necessary to “increase and sustain high vaccination coverage.” While a specific percentage is not given, vaccination coverage rates are a standard indicator for this target.

3. Indicators for SDG Target 10.2 (Inclusion)

   • The article implies a process indicator. Progress can be measured by tracking the expansion and reach of “integrated services to marginalized communities, incarcerated populations, and those living in informal settlements.” This would involve monitoring access to diagnosis and treatment within these specific populations.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: paho.org