This document summarizes the professional experience and qualifications of Ms. Claudia Pescetto. She has over 20 years of experience in health economics and financing, working currently as an Advisor at the Pan American Health Organization. Previously she worked at the International Monetary Fund and has a Master's degree in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University. Her areas of expertise include health financing strategies, health policy analysis, and economic evaluations of health interventions.
Health Trends in the Middle East and North AfricaHFG Project
In the past several decades, countries in the Middle East and North Africa have made significant improvements in developing their health systems and improving the health status of their populations. However, the region continues to face substantial and diverse political, economic, social, and health challenges: a rise in the burden of noncommunicable diseases, ongoing conflicts in several countries, and refugee crises. To inform future USAID health investments in the Middle East and North Africa, the Sustaining Health Outcomes through the Private Sector (SHOPS) Plus project and the Health Financing and Governance (HFG) project conducted an analysis of the private health sector and the health financing landscape from January 2017 to April 2018. The countries included in this analysis are Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, the West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen.
Can community action improve equity for maternal health and how does it do soHFG Project
Efforts to work with civil society to strengthen community participation and action for health are particularly important in Gujarat, India, given that the state has resources and capacity, but faces challenges in ensuring that services reach those most in need. To contribute to the knowledge base on accountability and maternal health, this study examines the equity effects of community action for maternal health led by Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) on facility deliveries. It then examines the underlying implementation processes with implications for strengthening accountability of maternity care across three districts of Gujarat, India. Community action for maternal health entailed NGOs a) working with community collectives to raise awareness about maternal health entitlements, b) supporting community monitoring of outreach government services, and c) facilitating dialogue with government providers and authorities with report cards based on community monitoring of maternal health.
Health Trends in the Middle East and North AfricaHFG Project
In the past several decades, countries in the Middle East and North Africa have made significant improvements in developing their health systems and improving the health status of their populations. However, the region continues to face substantial and diverse political, economic, social, and health challenges: a rise in the burden of noncommunicable diseases, ongoing conflicts in several countries, and refugee crises. To inform future USAID health investments in the Middle East and North Africa, the Sustaining Health Outcomes through the Private Sector (SHOPS) Plus project and the Health Financing and Governance (HFG) project conducted an analysis of the private health sector and the health financing landscape from January 2017 to April 2018. The countries included in this analysis are Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, the West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen.
Can community action improve equity for maternal health and how does it do soHFG Project
Efforts to work with civil society to strengthen community participation and action for health are particularly important in Gujarat, India, given that the state has resources and capacity, but faces challenges in ensuring that services reach those most in need. To contribute to the knowledge base on accountability and maternal health, this study examines the equity effects of community action for maternal health led by Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) on facility deliveries. It then examines the underlying implementation processes with implications for strengthening accountability of maternity care across three districts of Gujarat, India. Community action for maternal health entailed NGOs a) working with community collectives to raise awareness about maternal health entitlements, b) supporting community monitoring of outreach government services, and c) facilitating dialogue with government providers and authorities with report cards based on community monitoring of maternal health.
Entry Point Mapping: A Tool to Promote Civil Society Engagement on Health Fin...HFG Project
ivil society organizations (CSOs), particularly those working in the health sector, frequently seek opportunities to influence public health policy or share feedback on the quality or accessibility of health services. While these organizations may have important contributions to make, they often are not aware of the most effective and accessible entry points to use. Entry Point Mapping provides a methodology for systemic review and identification of mechanisms, forums and public platforms by which civil society organizations can participate in health sector policy formulation, program implementation, and oversight.
This paper presents an Entry Point Mapping Tool designed for CSOs with advocacy experience and public health officials seeking to expand civil society participation and contains a step-by-step guide for researching and analyzing legal entry points for civil society participation in governance of public health care facilities. Because CSOs have varied interests, the tool includes a series of steps for individual CSOs to determine the level of government at which to pursue their specific advocacy interest and the process of collecting targeted information on legally required points of entry for their civic engagement.
In addition, the Entry Point Mapping Tool offers guidance on analyzing the effectiveness on these entry points and coaches CSOs through the negotiation process of activating or expanding existing entry points, creating new ones, and winning overall collaboration with health officials on improving health policy and service delivery. This tool also documents the experience of CSOs implementing the entry point mapping methodology in Bangladesh and Cote d’Ivoire to demonstrate how the tool can promote increased civil society engagement on issues of health finance and governance.
Budget matters for health: key formulation and classification issuesHFG Project
This policy brief aims to raise awareness on the role of public budgeting – specifically aspects of budget formulation – for non-PFM specialists working in health. As part of an overall WHO programme of work on Budgeting in Health, it will help clarify the characteristics and implications of various budgeting approaches for the health sector.
HFG Project Brief - Improving Health Finance and Governance Expands Access to...HFG Project
A functional health system delivers the quality health care people need, where they need it, at
prices they can afford. The United States Agency for International Development’s Health Finance
and Governance (HFG) Project collaborates with partners in lower middle-income countries to
increase their domestic resources for health, manage those precious resources more effectively,
and make wise purchasing decisions. Effective health finance is linked closely to robust health
governance. When the governance of the health sector and its resources is weak, then investments
in technical areas are far less likely to achieve their intended results or yield better health
outcomes. Strong health governance ensures that health sector resources and funds achieve their
goals. Building more financial sustainability into health services, such as HIV and AIDS programs,
helps ensure that more people can get the health care they need to lead productive lives.
Active in more than 25 countries, USAID’s HFG Project partners with health stakeholders to
protect families from catastrophic health care costs, expand access to priority services – such as
maternal and child health care – and ensure equitable population coverage. These three pillars are
at the crux of the global movement for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Learn more: www.hfgproject.org
Do Better Laws and Regulations Promote Universal Health Coverage? A Review of...HFG Project
The importance of policies, laws, and regulations (referred to collectively below as “policy instances”) as instruments to support progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in low- and middle-income countries cannot be understated. However, there has been insufficient focus in the literature on the role of these instruments, leading to a lack of evidence as to what constitutes a supportive legal environment that can consistently provide a strong basis for UHC reform processes. In this review, we explore how policies implemented in different country contexts have had an impact on their achievement of UHC goals.
In order to better differentiate the effect of various policy instances on the achievement of UHC goals, we developed a typology for policy instances and then ascribed the different aspects of governance to the instances identified in the literature, based on how they were designed and implemented. Finally, we considered the success of each policy instance identified, in terms of achieving intended UHC-related outcomes.
Governments may have political and process constraints on the number of policy instances they can design and implement in a period leading up to and during health sector reform. In terms of which health system component to focus such change on, we have more evidence for policy instances focused on health financing, given that designing effective financing mechanisms can shape the entire health
sector. Following this, policy instances that address human resources for health and supply chain management should be prioritized as they appear to have key strengthening effects on the provision of healthcare by increasing efficiency, equity, and quality.
This review of the evidence to date of governments’ policy-making experience highlights the importance of effective policy design and implementation with a clear orientation towards better governance, and in particular increased responsiveness and accountability.
Essential Package of Health Services Country Snapshot: RwandaHFG Project
This country snapshot is one in a series of 24 snapshots as part of an activity looking at the Governance Dimensions of Essential Packages of Health Services in the Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Death priority countries. The snapshot explores several important dimensions of the EPHS in the country, such as how government policies contribute to the service coverage, population coverage, and financial coverage of the package. Each country snapshot includes annexes that contain further information about the EPHS.
Universal Health Coverage: Frequently Asked QuestionsHFG Project
This brief answers several “frequently asked questions” (FAQ) on universal health coverage (UHC):
What is Universal Health Coverage (UHC)?
How does UHC align with USAID’s priorities?
How does UHC relate to broader goals for development, including the Sustainable Development Goals?
How is UHC measured?
What progress has been made towards UHC?
How does USAID support countries’ UHC efforts?
The FAQ accompanies Universal Health Coverage: An Annotated Bibliography, which presents resources that provide an overview of UHC and also delve into specific topics within UHC, such as measurement, health financing, and benefit plans. The bibliography also includes links to relevant websites that can provide additional resources.
Implementing Pro-Poor Universal Health CoverageHFG Project
From The Lancet Global Health: Countries worldwide are embarking on health system reforms that move them closer to UHC, in many cases with a clear pro-poor focus. Along the way, there is a wealth of guidance on the technical aspects of UHC, such as designing health service packages and developing health financing systems. However, there is very little practical guidance on how to implement these policies.
Motivated by a shared interest in helping to close this information gap, a diverse international group of 21 practitioners and academics, including ministry of health officials and representatives of global health agencies and foundations, convened at The Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center for a three-day workshop from July 7–9, 2015.
The participants shared their experiences of implementing UHC and discussed the limited evidence on how to implement UHC, focusing on a set of seven key “how” questions from across five domains of UHC.
Entry Point Mapping: A Tool to Promote Civil Society Engagement on Health Fin...HFG Project
ivil society organizations (CSOs), particularly those working in the health sector, frequently seek opportunities to influence public health policy or share feedback on the quality or accessibility of health services. While these organizations may have important contributions to make, they often are not aware of the most effective and accessible entry points to use. Entry Point Mapping provides a methodology for systemic review and identification of mechanisms, forums and public platforms by which civil society organizations can participate in health sector policy formulation, program implementation, and oversight.
This paper presents an Entry Point Mapping Tool designed for CSOs with advocacy experience and public health officials seeking to expand civil society participation and contains a step-by-step guide for researching and analyzing legal entry points for civil society participation in governance of public health care facilities. Because CSOs have varied interests, the tool includes a series of steps for individual CSOs to determine the level of government at which to pursue their specific advocacy interest and the process of collecting targeted information on legally required points of entry for their civic engagement.
In addition, the Entry Point Mapping Tool offers guidance on analyzing the effectiveness on these entry points and coaches CSOs through the negotiation process of activating or expanding existing entry points, creating new ones, and winning overall collaboration with health officials on improving health policy and service delivery. This tool also documents the experience of CSOs implementing the entry point mapping methodology in Bangladesh and Cote d’Ivoire to demonstrate how the tool can promote increased civil society engagement on issues of health finance and governance.
Budget matters for health: key formulation and classification issuesHFG Project
This policy brief aims to raise awareness on the role of public budgeting – specifically aspects of budget formulation – for non-PFM specialists working in health. As part of an overall WHO programme of work on Budgeting in Health, it will help clarify the characteristics and implications of various budgeting approaches for the health sector.
HFG Project Brief - Improving Health Finance and Governance Expands Access to...HFG Project
A functional health system delivers the quality health care people need, where they need it, at
prices they can afford. The United States Agency for International Development’s Health Finance
and Governance (HFG) Project collaborates with partners in lower middle-income countries to
increase their domestic resources for health, manage those precious resources more effectively,
and make wise purchasing decisions. Effective health finance is linked closely to robust health
governance. When the governance of the health sector and its resources is weak, then investments
in technical areas are far less likely to achieve their intended results or yield better health
outcomes. Strong health governance ensures that health sector resources and funds achieve their
goals. Building more financial sustainability into health services, such as HIV and AIDS programs,
helps ensure that more people can get the health care they need to lead productive lives.
Active in more than 25 countries, USAID’s HFG Project partners with health stakeholders to
protect families from catastrophic health care costs, expand access to priority services – such as
maternal and child health care – and ensure equitable population coverage. These three pillars are
at the crux of the global movement for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Learn more: www.hfgproject.org
Do Better Laws and Regulations Promote Universal Health Coverage? A Review of...HFG Project
The importance of policies, laws, and regulations (referred to collectively below as “policy instances”) as instruments to support progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in low- and middle-income countries cannot be understated. However, there has been insufficient focus in the literature on the role of these instruments, leading to a lack of evidence as to what constitutes a supportive legal environment that can consistently provide a strong basis for UHC reform processes. In this review, we explore how policies implemented in different country contexts have had an impact on their achievement of UHC goals.
In order to better differentiate the effect of various policy instances on the achievement of UHC goals, we developed a typology for policy instances and then ascribed the different aspects of governance to the instances identified in the literature, based on how they were designed and implemented. Finally, we considered the success of each policy instance identified, in terms of achieving intended UHC-related outcomes.
Governments may have political and process constraints on the number of policy instances they can design and implement in a period leading up to and during health sector reform. In terms of which health system component to focus such change on, we have more evidence for policy instances focused on health financing, given that designing effective financing mechanisms can shape the entire health
sector. Following this, policy instances that address human resources for health and supply chain management should be prioritized as they appear to have key strengthening effects on the provision of healthcare by increasing efficiency, equity, and quality.
This review of the evidence to date of governments’ policy-making experience highlights the importance of effective policy design and implementation with a clear orientation towards better governance, and in particular increased responsiveness and accountability.
Essential Package of Health Services Country Snapshot: RwandaHFG Project
This country snapshot is one in a series of 24 snapshots as part of an activity looking at the Governance Dimensions of Essential Packages of Health Services in the Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Death priority countries. The snapshot explores several important dimensions of the EPHS in the country, such as how government policies contribute to the service coverage, population coverage, and financial coverage of the package. Each country snapshot includes annexes that contain further information about the EPHS.
Universal Health Coverage: Frequently Asked QuestionsHFG Project
This brief answers several “frequently asked questions” (FAQ) on universal health coverage (UHC):
What is Universal Health Coverage (UHC)?
How does UHC align with USAID’s priorities?
How does UHC relate to broader goals for development, including the Sustainable Development Goals?
How is UHC measured?
What progress has been made towards UHC?
How does USAID support countries’ UHC efforts?
The FAQ accompanies Universal Health Coverage: An Annotated Bibliography, which presents resources that provide an overview of UHC and also delve into specific topics within UHC, such as measurement, health financing, and benefit plans. The bibliography also includes links to relevant websites that can provide additional resources.
Implementing Pro-Poor Universal Health CoverageHFG Project
From The Lancet Global Health: Countries worldwide are embarking on health system reforms that move them closer to UHC, in many cases with a clear pro-poor focus. Along the way, there is a wealth of guidance on the technical aspects of UHC, such as designing health service packages and developing health financing systems. However, there is very little practical guidance on how to implement these policies.
Motivated by a shared interest in helping to close this information gap, a diverse international group of 21 practitioners and academics, including ministry of health officials and representatives of global health agencies and foundations, convened at The Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center for a three-day workshop from July 7–9, 2015.
The participants shared their experiences of implementing UHC and discussed the limited evidence on how to implement UHC, focusing on a set of seven key “how” questions from across five domains of UHC.
discussion on Health Economics and Health Care in our country and abroad, and what resources are given by the private sectors and with the very scarce help from the DOH, national and local government, and from the support given by WHO.
Forty years ago, the Region of the Americas played a critical JeanmarieColbert3
Forty years ago, the Region of the Americas played a critical role in the develop-
ment and negotiation of the Alma-Ata Declaration, which identified primary health
care as a central strategy to the goal of health for all and a comprehensive approach to
the organization of health systems. Since then, the values and principles of primary
health care, which include the right to health, equity, solidarity, social justice and par-
ticipation, and multisectoral action, among others, have formed the basis of many
PAHO mandates and have guided health systems transformation in the Region. The
positive impact of primary health care on the reduction of mortality, morbidity, and
inequities in health is well known. (1) What’s more, primary health care consumes less
financial resources than curative approaches and promotes a chain of positive results
from improved health to increased economic output, growth and productivity. (2)
In 2007, PAHO’s position paper on Renewing Primary Health Care in the Americas
included the definition of elements and functions of a primary healthcare-based
health system with the intention of providing guidance to countries as they worked
to transform their systems. (3) In 2014, the 53rd PAHO Directing Council’s resolution
on Universal Access to Health and Universal Health Coverage (4) recognized the
values and principles of Alma-Ata. The resolution urged PAHO Member States to
promote intersectoral action to address social determinants of health and move
toward health systems where all people and communities have access, without any
discrimination, to comprehensive, appropriate and timely, quality health services, as
well as access to safe, effective, and affordable quality medicines, while ensuring that
the use of such services does not expose users to financial difficulties. (4) The Sustai-
nable Health Agenda for the Americas 2018–2030, which represents the commitment
of Member States to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and unfinished
business from previous engagements, established areas of action that reinforce and
complement the recommendations of the Alma-Ata Declaration. These include stren-
gthening the national health authority; tackling health determinants; increasing so-
cial protection and access to quality health services; diminishing health inequalities
among countries and inequities within them; reducing the risk and burden of disease;
strengthening the management and development of health workers; harnessing
knowledge, science, and technology; and strengthening health security. (5)
In the Region, the lessons that have been learned about the primary health care
approach since Alma-Ata have been overwhelmingly positive. We have seen that
countries that have implemented policies and programs based on primary health
care have registered the lowest levels of infant and maternal mortality. Other achie-
vements include improvement in public spending, increase in primary care s ...
Capital Investment in Health Systems: What is the latest thinking?HFG Project
Capital investment in health typically refers to large expenditures in construction of hospitals and other facilities, investment in diagnostic and treatment technologies, and information technology platforms. These investments are characterized by their longevity and they are critical to efforts to improve healthcare quality and efficiency. Contrary to developed countries where there is well documented experience on capital investment in the health sector, including use of public private partnerships for the investment; there is little evidence on capital investment in health from low and middle income countries.
This work was undertaken to add to the HFG’s knowledge and learning strategy by clarifying what good practice guidance exists in capital benchmark in LMICs health sectors, as well as the HFG project’s experience in the area. This brief will be of value to all those interested in the planning and financing the capital investment in the health sector. This includes politicians, planners, managers, health professionals, architects, designers, and researchers in both the public and private sectors.
HCAD 600 Group 2: The Future of Healthcare: Macro-Trends Effect on Healthcare...HCADGROUP2
The healthcare industry has been growing steadily for a number of years - mainly because people depend on health services no matter what the economic climate (Torpey, 2014 p. 29). By 2022, the healthcare industry, which is projected to be among the fastest-growing industries in the US. Economy, will add over 4 million jobs for both current and future healthcare professionals (Torpey, 2014 p28). The majority of these jobs will be most prevalent in the industries of hospitals, offices of health practitioners, nursing and residential care facilities, home healthcare services, and outpatient, laboratory, and other ambulatory services (Torpey). Industrial growth within the U.S. healthcare system will be a direct byproduct of macro-trends emerging in the U.S. healthcare system, such as those related to the overall economy, morphing demographics, personal lifestyles and behaviors, emerging technologies, and evolving federal and state government policies. As a result, this growing, heavily diverse healthcare industry will present an inordinate amount of career opportunities for healthcare managers in the next 10 years.
The mission of the program is to sensitize the elderly about how they could get access to their medicine. The primary goal is to ensure that older adults are living well by getting access to their medicines when they want them depending on their condition
The Health Finance and Governance Briefing KitHFG Project
Resource Type: Brief
Authors: Megan Meline, Lisa Tarantino, Jeremy Kanthor, and Sharon Nakhimovsky
Published: September 2015
Resource Description: Getting access to affordable, quality health care is a universal story that touches virtually every family in the world. At the same time, providing quality health services and access to trained health professionals is a challenge for governments. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 150 million people worldwide face “catastrophic expenditure” because of high costs of health care. In other words, they may have to forgo paying for basic needs, such as food, housing, or education to pay for medical treatment instead. These costs include transportation, doctors’ fees, medicine, hospitalization bills, and days lost from work.
Behind these sobering statistics lies a wealth of news and feature stories waiting for the media to investigate and share with national leaders and policymakers as well as civil society groups who can advocate for changes to health budgets and policies. At the heart of these stories are important questions about the financing of health care and the quality of governance that ensures responsive and effective management of those resources and services.
But writing health finance and governance stories can be challenging. Health finance is riddled with complex language, technical economic terms, and numbers – not necessarily a journalist’s comfort zone. The right sources for these stories can be difficult to identify and unwilling to talk. Data may be difficult to locate or to understand. And while corruption makes for splashy headlines, the broader systemic challenges of health governance are not widely understood — and yet they are important.
The Health Finance and Governance Briefing Kit is designed to help journalists and their editors uncover and tell these important health stories that affect people all around the world.
The Health Finance and Governance Briefing KitHFG Project
The Health Finance and Governance Briefing Kit is designed to help journalists and their editors uncover and tell these important health stories that affect people all around the world.
Monitoring progress towards universal health coverage at country and global l...The Rockefeller Foundation
A movement towards universal health coverage (UHC) – ensuring that everyone who needs health services is able to get them, without undue financial hardship – has been growing across the globe (1). This has led to a sharp increase in the demand for expertise, evidence and measures of progress and a push to make UHC one of the goals of the post-2015 development agenda (2). This paper proposes a framework for tracking country and global progress towards UHC; its aim is to inform and guide these discussions and assessment of both aggregate and equitable coverage of essential health services as well as financial protection. Monitoring progress towards these two components of UHC will be complementary and critical to achieving desirable health outcome goals, such as ending preventable deaths and promoting healthy life expectancy and also reducing poverty and protecting household incomes.
This paper was written jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO) and The World Bank Group on the basis of consultations and discussions with country representatives, technical experts and global health and development partners (3). A draft of this paper was posted online and circulated widely for consultation between December 2013 and February 2014. Nearly 70 submissions were received from countries, development partners, civil society, academics and other interested stakeholders. The feedback was synthesized and reviewed at a meeting of country and global experts in Bellagio, Italy, in March 2014 (4). The paper was modified to reflect the views emerging from these consultations.
Universal health coverage (UHC)—ensuring that everyone has access to quality, affordable health services when needed—can be a vehicle for improved equity, health, financial well-being, and economic development. In its 2013 report, Global Health 2035, the Commission on Investing in Health (CIH) made the case that progressive (“pro-poor”) pathways towards UHC, which target the poor from the outset, are the most efficient way to achieve both improved health outcomes and increased financial protection (FP). Countries worldwide are now embarking on health system changes to move closer to achieving UHC, often with a clear pro-poor intent. While they can draw on guidance related to the technical aspects of UHC (the “what” of UHC), such as on service package design, there is less information on the “how” of UHC—that is, on how to maximize the chances of successful implementation.
Motivated by a shared interest in helping to close this information gap, a diverse international group of 21 practitioners and academics, including ministry of health officials and representatives of global health agencies and foundations, convened at The Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center for a three-day workshop from July 7–9, 2015. The participants shared their experiences of implementing UHC and discussed the limited evidence on how to implement UHC, focusing on a set of seven key “how” questions from across five domains of UHC.
BEST PRACTICES Comprehensive Resources Compendium (1)
PescettoClaudia_CV_Eng_H_2016
1. 1
CLAUDIA PESCETTO
Phone: (US) +1.301.526.7669
E-mail: Cpescettov@gmail.com
S U M M A R Y
Ms. Pescetto is currently Advisor in Health Economics and Financing at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the
Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Region of the Americas, in Washington D.C. She holds a
Bachelor’s (B.Sc.) degree in economics from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and a Master’s degree (M.A.) in Applied
Economics from Johns Hopkins University. Ms. Pescetto possesses strong analytical skills and practical knowledge of
international health financing and health insurance systems and their challenges to improve equity and efficiency of services
delivery. She is capable to effectively deliver political advice at senior government officials and influence decision-making and
deals effectively with counterparts and diverse stakeholders at country and international level.
She has over 20 years of national and international experience in providing policy advice and helping countries to build
capacity in health financing and health policy analysis through regional, sub-regional and country level activities. Her areas of
expertise include analysis and projections of fiscal space for health and public financial management coordination; analysis of
health expenditure trends and health financing mechanisms using the System of Health Accounts methodology; costing of
health care services and the design of provider payment systems; economic evaluation analysis of the introduction of health
technologies and health interventions; analysis of economic impact of aging and non-communicable diseases and long-term
care.
Prior to joining PAHO/WHO, Ms. Pescetto worked at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a research analyst in the
Monetary and Capital Markets Department where she was in charge of monitoring and reporting on global financial markets
indicators performance and trends, with particular emphasis in emerging countries, and participated of the Financial Sector
Assessment Program (FSAP) in countries of the Western Hemisphere and the Middle East. In the private sector she worked
as analyst of macroeconomic variables, economic activity sectors and stock markets.
P R O F E S S I O N A L E X P E R I E N C E
PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION (PAHO/WHO), Washington, DC 2009 - current
Advisor, Health Economics and Financing, Health Systems and Services
Responsible for providing policy advice to decision-makers and to promote the use of economic and financial tools in the
analysis of health financing and health system issues to advance toward universal health, with equity and efficiency. Main
tasks include to develop, implement and evaluate policy interventions related to the health financing functions: collection,
pooling and purchasing in health reform processes, with particular emphasis in expanding fiscal space for health and
developing strategic purchasing mechanisms; to build partnerships and collaborate with priority program managers and global
stakeholders to strengthening health financing systems and ensure their sustainability from an integrated health systems
perspective; to conduct capacity building activities in health financing and health economics in collaboration with other national
and international agencies; and to support the production and use of health accounts in policy design and resource tracking.
Main achievements:
o Conducted technical cooperation activities for the design, review, and implementation of health financing strategies and
health reform processes and initiatives toward universal health. Beneficiaries: Costa Rica, Chile, Dominican Republic,
Guatemala, Honduras, Panama; Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica.
o Coordinated and provided technical support to countries under the WHO/GAVI/GF/ project to institutionalize the
production of health accounts in the Americas, including the design and implementation of a self-guided virtual course on
SHA2011 methodology available from PAHO’s Virtual Campus of Public Health. Beneficiaries: Bolivia, Colombia, Costa
Rica, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.
o Conducted pilot application in Honduras of assessment tool of the response capacity of health systems to the Zika
emergency, including costing exercise of gaps, jointly developed with the World Bank and the Interamerican Development
Bank. Piloting comprises 5 countries: Honduras, Dominica, Colombia, Paraguay, El Salvador.
2. 2
o Managed different grants including 5-year $1 million project grant with the British Department for International
Development (DFID) and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID) to promote universal health in
countries of Latin America and the English Caribbean. Work included preparation of terms of reference, review and
approval of consultants’ proposals, budgeting, technical supervision of technical studies, and dissemination. Beneficiaries:
Bolivia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay;
Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana and Jamaica)
o Coordinated the inclusion of health system strengthening crosscutting interventions in the development of concept notes
to the Global Fund (GF), as part of joint WHO/PAHO/GF agreement.
o Developed innovative costing model for the joint HIV-TB concept note presented by Panama to the GF in 2015.
o Trained technical staff of Ministries of Health at the national and sub-regional level on:
! Health economics issues, including economic evaluation of health public policy interventions, cost analysis of
health care services, and provider payment systems design.
! Expenditure tracking and the use of health accounts (SHA2011) to inform public health policy design and
evaluation toward universal health coverage and universal access to health
! Design of payment mechanisms to providers in integrated health services networks
! Regulation of privately managed health insurance administrators
o Led financial sustainability report for the social security institution of Costa Rica (CCSS). Available at:
http://wfnode01.nacion.com/MMediaFiles/nacioncom/8e/8e101e04-0420-4dfd-ae21-d32ae756d4d1.pdf
o Led research project on economic dimensions of chronic diseases in the Americas for the Disease Control Priorities
Project (DCP3) in partnership with University of Washington. Project involved letter of agreement for $125,000 funding.
o Subject matter expert at senior policy seminars and regional technical workshops.
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, Washington, D.C. 2005 – 2009
Research Analyst, Monetary and Capital Markets
Provided research assistance for a team in charge of financial surveillance of Western Hemisphere and Middle East countries.
Main topics covered included financial sector stability and structural issues; macro-financial linkages; public debt
management; credit and market risk measures.
o Participated on the IMF’s Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) in 5 countries: Costa Rica, United Arab
Emirates, Mexico, Barbados and Guatemala conducting interviews with senior staff in government and private institutions,
drafting sections of reports, and performing exchange rate stress tests.
o Provided research support for a book titled “Central America: Structural Foundations for Regional Financial Integration.”
IMF 2006. Available at: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.cfm?sk=18586.0
o Monitored and reported on key financial surveillance indicators related to financial sector stability and structural issues,
public debt management, and credit and market risk measures and reported on a daily basis.
o Collaborated with the budgeting component of the feasibility study for the CAPTAC-DR technical assistance center.
PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION (PAHO/WHO), Washington, D.C.
Consultant, Health Economics and Financing Unit 2003 – 2005
Performed research on health economics and financing, macroeconomics and health, and human development topics.
o Conducted research on fiscal sustainability of public policies directed to expand coverage of social protection programs
related to immunization programs; health and income programs for the elderly; economic impacts of obesity and related
chronic non-communicable diseases; health adjusted poverty lines; health, nutrition and poverty.
o Organized and coordinated various conferences on macroeconomics and health; health, human capital and economic
growth.
PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION (PAHO/WHO), Washington, D.C.
Consultant, Information and Knowledge Operations Unit 2002 – 2003
Responsible for updating PAHO’s technical library database and for supervising a group of data-entry specialists.
3. 3
SUDAMERICANO BOLSA STOCK BROKERAGE HOUSE, Lima, Peru (ranked 9th in equities and 5th in debt instruments in 2000)
Lead Business Analyst, Investment Department 1996 – 2000
Prepared weekly reports on banking, telecommunications, mining and construction sectors based on fundamental and
technical valuation; performed cash-flow company valuations.
o Established an information network with investor relations and financial departments of companies analyzed as well as
with main banking institutions’ treasury departments and Central Bank.
o Developed financial analysis model to convert a pawnbroker company into a formal small financial intermediation
company.
ARGOS S.A. STOCK BROKERAGE HOUSE, Lima, Peru (ranked 1st in 1993 and 2nd in 1994-1995)
Senior Business Analyst, Investment Banking Department. 1993 – 1996
Participated in company valuation projects based on fundamental and cash-flow analysis. Main achievements:
o Participated in the valuation of a state-owned hotel chain as part of the Peru’s privatization program of State Owned
Enterprises.
o Wrote technical evaluation report on the financial and organizational restructuring of Industrias Reunidas, SA, the largest
Peruvian metal-mechanic and home appliances company.
MACROCONSULT, S.A., Lima, Peru
Financial Analyst, Economic Studies Department 1988 – 1993
Monitored indicators for the real and external sectors and participated in consulting projects. Main achievements:
o Appointed (acting) Chief of Economic Studies Department.
o Consultant and team member in USAID funded project to estimate and project the extension and economic impact of
coca crops in Peru.
o Permanent contributor to the institutional monthly report on macroeconomic policy developments (REM) available by
subscription to high-level managers of private companies of various economic sectors.
E D U C A T I O N
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 2008
Master of Arts in Applied Economics
Pontificia Universidad Católica, Lima, Peru 1991
B.A. in Economics
C O U R S E W O R K A N D D I P L O M A S
IMF Institute, Economics Training Program 2006 – 2008
Various courses on: fiscal policy, economic growth theory, econometrics and international finance.
Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health 2004
Graduate Summer Institute of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Coursework includes: principles of epidemiology and statistical reasoning in public health (I and II)
Instituto de Formación Bancaria (Banking Institute), Lima, Peru 1999
International Diploma in Credit Management
O T H E R S K I L L S
Languages: English (fluent), Spanish (native), Italian (intermediate), French (beginner)
Computer: MS Office, E-views, STATA
4. 4
Specialized Tools and databases: specialized databases in finance (e.g. Bankscope, Bloomberg, Economatica, ISIS
Emerging Markets, Datastream Advance, S&P Emerging Market Indices); Global and regional databases in macroeconomic
and social indicators. Tools for health systems analysis and costing (e.g. OneHealth tool);
P U B L I C A T I O N S
• Papers:
Mayer-Foulkes D, Pescetto-Villouta C (2012). Economic Development and Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases. Global
Economic Journal. Volume 12, issue, 4, pages ISSN (Online) 1524-5861, DOI: 10.1515/1524-5861.1889.
Pescetto, C. and Suarez, R. Social Protection Systems for Older Adults in Latin America and the Caribbean. Pan American
Journal of Public Health (2005). Volume 17, issue 5/6, pages 419 –28. Washington, D.C.
Pescetto, C. Improving the Measurement of Poverty in the Americas, Health Adjusted Poverty Lines: Background Materials –
A Literature Review (2004). Published at: http://www.paho.org/English/DPM/SHD/HP/hapl-litcprs.pdf
• Technical Reports and other work:
Contributor to the published following reports:
“The World Health Report. Health Systems Financing. The path to universal coverage. WHO 2010.” Geneva.
“Compendium of Best Practices in Poverty Measurement (2006). Rio Group – Expert Group on Poverty Statistics. Chapter II.
Special Topic: Health Status and Poverty Measurement.” Paper presented for comments at the United Nations Statistical
Commission.
“Financial System Stability Assessment – United Arab Emirates.” IMF 2007
“Financial System Stability Assessment – Costa Rica.” IMF 2007
“Financial System Stability Assessment – Guatemala.” IMF 2005
TEACHING AND STAFF TRAINING EXPERIENCE
Participated as invited lecturer in the following programs during 2013. Previous years available per request:
• In English/Spanish:
o PAHO Staff training program in National Health Policies, Strategies and Plans (NHPSP) as pat of WHO Global Learning
Program. This course was offered twice to PAHO professional staff, including country office representatives. The first
cohort included 16 PAHO professional staff and 9 representatives from country offices attending a face-to-face Workshop
in Medellin, Colombia on January 1st to February 4th, 2011. The second cohort included Spanish speaking PAHO country
offices, including 14 professional staff and 7 representatives attending a 6-week virtual phase and a face-to-face
Workshop in Panama on June 4th to 6th, 2012.
• In Spanish:
o “Taller sobre Cuentas de Salud en el Marco del Sistema de Cuentas de Salud (SHA) 2011”. Bogota, Colombia. Julio, 25
al 31, 2013
o “Curso de Introduccion a la Economia de la Salud” Fase I. Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana. Agosto 19-23, 2013.
Fase II. Boca Chica, Republica Dominicana, Octubre 28-30, 2013
o “Diplomado en Economia y Salud”. FLACSO-CEPAL-OPS. Santiago, Chile, November 25 – December 6, 2013
INVITED PRESENTATIONS and CONFERENCES ORGANIZED:
List available by request
5. 5
OTHER:
Peer reviewer for “Health Policy and Planning Journal;” “International Journal of Integrated Care;” “Revista de Salud Publica
de Mexico”
REFERENCES:
Available upon request
