During the August RTSL quality improvement community of practice call, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) showcased how the HEARTS Quality Framework is driving measurable progress in hypertension control in the region. El Salvador doubled population BP control from 18% to 36% in five years, Suriname nearly tripled control from 12% to 35% in two years, and Chile advanced legal reforms, workforce training, and treatment protocols that empower nurses and pharmacists to provide better treatment and ensure patients get the care they need. This progress is crucial since: in 2019, over 200 million adults in the WHO Americas region had hypertension, with 30% remaining undiagnosed and only 36% having their high blood pressure under control.
By giving countries practical tools to close gaps in primary care, the framework is helping turn commitments into healthier communities and stronger health systems.
Learn more:
- HEARTS in the Americas Pan American Health Organization. HEARTS in the Americas. Quality Improvement for Primary Health Care Centers. Washington D.C.; 2024. Available at: https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/59308
- Pan American Health Organization. HEARTS in the Americas: Evaluation framework for continuous quality improvement in primary care centers. Washington D.C.; 2025. Available at: https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/64210