The role of essential public health functions in health systems

Objective. To review the importance of the essential public health functions (EPHF), rescuing their role for the exercise of stewardship in health and the response of the state to preserve the health and well-being of the entire population. Materials and methods. The different versions of the EPHF initially published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) version of 2000 were reviewed, to finally present the new version of the EPHF launched by PAHO in December 2020. Results. The different versions of the EPHF have been aimed at positioning the importance of public health considering contexts of sectoral reforms. For two decades, EPHFs in the Region of the Americas have been part of national debates, and their measurement has led to significant improvements in health systems. The revamped version of the EPHF seeks to give countries greater strength to face new public health challenges. Conclusions. EPHFs have a transcendental role in positioning public health as a duty of the state at the central, state, and local level.