1. Quito, Ecuador - October, 2007 STRUCTURE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE REGIONAL FORUM

2. Objectives of the Regional Forum Examine the regional experience, lessons learned, and challenges in strengthening PHC-based health systems, with a focus on:  Steering Role of the National Health Authority  The construction of integrated health service networks  Strengthening public health Promote a debate on the replicability and applicability of the experiences examined in other contexts;

3. Objectives of the Regional Forum Analyze the challenges and requirements for overcoming exclusion, fragmentation, and segmentation; Promote an exchange of ideas on policies, interventions, and strategies to tackle these problems; and Identify technical and financial cooperation needs.

4. Expected Results 1. Better understanding of the strategies needed to strengthen health systems. 2. Generation of policy options. 3. Definition of specific strategies for the countries and the agencies that finance technical cooperation.

5. General Structure of the Forum 1. Panels; 2. Plenary discussions; 3. Working groups.

6. Structure of the Forum Day 1: Trends and experiences in strengthening health systems; Day 2: Obstacles to and conditions for strengthening health systems; Day 3: Relevant strategies for strengthening health systems.

7. Background Documents for Discussion 1. Is It Possible to Scale-Up Health Systems Based on Primary Health Care? 2. Public Health Capacities in Latin America and the Caribbean: Assessment and Strengthening

8. Background Documents for Discussion 3. The Steering Role of the NHA in Action: Lessons Learned 4. Integrated Health Services Delivery Systems

9. Background Documents for Discussion 5. Renewing Primary Health Care in the Americas - PAHO/WHO Position Paper

10. Visit the website of Health Systems Strengthening in Latin America and the Caribbean: www.lachealthsys.org For more information...

11. Thank you very much!