Two countries, similar practices: the political practices of the food industry influencing the adoption of key public health nutrition policies in Guatemala and Panama.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the corporate political activity (CPA) strategies used by food industry actors during the development of two public health nutrition policies in Central America: Law #570 (taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages) in Panama and Bill #5504 (labelling and food marketing regulations) in Guatemala. DESIGN: We triangulated data from publicly available information from 2018 to 2020, (e.g. industry and government materials; social media material) with semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. SETTING: Guatemala and Panama. PARTICIPANTS: Government, academia and international organisations workers in health and nutrition. DESIGN: CPA strategies were categorised according to an existing internationally used taxonomy into action-based, instrumental strategies (coalition management, information management, direct involvement and influence in policy, legal action) and discursive strategies. RESULTS: Instrumental strategies included the establishment of relationships with policymakers and direct lobbying against the proposed public policies. Discursive strategies were mainly criticising on the unfounded ground that they lacked evidence of effectiveness and will imply negative impacts on the economy. The industry pointed at individuals for making their own food choices, in order to shift the focus away from the role of its products in contributing to ill health. CONCLUSION: We provide evidence of the political practices used by the food industry to interfere with the development and implementation of public health nutrition policies to improve diets in Central America. Policymakers, public health advocates and the public should be informed about those practices and develop counterstrategies and arguments to protect the public and policies from the vested interests of the food industry.

Civil society's role in improving hypertension control in Latin America.

Despite effort in Latin America to implement the HEARTS initiative, hypertension control is still inadequate. There are many advances in the medical and technical arena, but little to promote political and systemic change. The vibrant civil society that has advanced policy change in tobacco control, food policy, and other public health initiatives can make a crucial contribution to prioritize hypertension control in the political agenda, ensure sustainable funding, promote the procurement of affordable and effective medications, and expand community demand for action. The recommended first step for civil society's involvement is to analyze the political landscape to design an advocacy plan. The political landscape includes a legal analysis, policy mapping, stakeholders mapping, identifying obstacles, mapping community strategies, and risk assessment. The second step is to define policy goals and an advocacy strategy. Based on experience, there would be two main policy goals: to increase political will to make hypertension a top priority, securing necessary resources; and strengthen community awareness and social demand for action. The third step is to develop and implement the advocacy plan with the tools familiar to civil society, including building a case for support, advocacy towards decision makers, media advocacy, coalition building, countering the opposition, and civil society monitoring and accountability. To jumpstart this approach, there should be incentives for civil society and a transition for transferring competencies to a new arena. The results would be more sustainable and scalable hypertension control, better health outcomes, and advances toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and universal health coverage.

A pesar de los esfuerzos para poner en marcha la iniciativa HEARTS en América Latina, el control de la hipertensión sigue siendo inadecuado. Ha habido muchos avances en el ámbito médico y técnico, pero poco ha logrado hacerse para promover el cambio político y sistémico. La vibrante sociedad civil que ha logrado avances en el cambio de políticas sobre el control del tabaco, las políticas relacionadas con los alimentos y otras iniciativas de salud pública puede realizar una contribución crucial para que se dé prioridad al control de la hipertensión en la agenda política, se garantice la financiación sostenible, se promueva la compra de medicamentos asequibles y efectivos, y se amplíe la demanda de medidas por parte de la comunidad.El primer paso recomendado para lograr la participación de la sociedad civil es analizar el panorama político para diseñar un plan para abogar por la causa. El panorama político incluye el análisis legal, el mapeo de políticas y de las partes interesadas, la definición de los obstáculos y las estrategias comunitarias, y la evaluación de riesgos. El segundo paso es definir los objetivos de las políticas y diseñar una estrategia para abogar por la causa. Con base en la experiencia, las políticas tendrían dos objetivos principales: lograr una mayor voluntad política para convertir la hipertensión en una prioridad absoluta, asegurando los recursos necesarios, y fortalecer la concientización de la comunidad y la demanda de acción por parte de la sociedad. El tercer paso es elaborar y ejecutar un plan para abogar por la causa con herramientas familiares para la sociedad civil, lo que incluye buscar argumentos para lograr el apoyo, abogar ante los responsables de tomar decisiones y los medios de comunicación, crear coaliciones, contrarrestar la oposición, dar seguimiento a la sociedad civil y establecer mecanismos de rendición de cuentas de la sociedad civil.Para impulsar este enfoque, debería haber incentivos para la sociedad civil y una transición para la transferencia de competencias en un nuevo escenario. Los resultados serían un control de la hipertensión más sostenible y ampliable, mejores resultados de salud y avances hacia los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible de la Agenda 2030 y la cobertura universal de salud.

Apesar dos esforços feitos na América Latina para implementar a iniciativa HEARTS, o controle da hipertensão arterial continua sendo inadequado. Houve muitos avanços na área médica e técnica, mas pouco no sentido de promover mudanças políticas e sistêmicas. A sociedade civil vibrante que impulsionou mudanças nas políticas de controle do tabaco, na política de alimentação e em outras iniciativas de saúde pública pode fazer uma contribuição fundamental no sentido de priorizar o controle da hipertensão na agenda política, garantir financiamento sustentável, promover a aquisição de medicamentos eficazes a preços acessíveis e aumentar a demanda da comunidade por ações.Recomenda-se que o primeiro passo para envolver a sociedade civil seja uma análise do cenário político para elaborar um plano de promoção da causa. O cenário político inclui análise jurídica, mapeamento de políticas, mapeamento de interessados diretos, identificação de obstáculos, mapeamento de estratégias comunitárias e avaliação de riscos. O segundo passo é definir metas para as políticas e uma estratégia de promoção da causa. Com base em experiências anteriores, as políticas teriam duas metas principais: aumentar o compromisso político de dar prioridade máxima à hipertensão, assegurando os recursos necessários, e fortalecer a conscientização da comunidade e a demanda social por ações. O terceiro passo é desenvolver e implementar o plano de promoção da causa utilizando ferramentas já familiares para a sociedade civil, como a elaboração de argumentos para obter apoio, a defesa da causa junto a tomadores de decisão, a promoção nos meios de comunicação, a formação de coalizões, o combate a oponentes e o monitoramento e responsabilização da sociedade civil.Para alavancar essa abordagem, deve haver incentivos para a sociedade civil, com uma transição para a transferência de competências para uma nova área. Os resultados seriam um controle mais sustentável e expansível da hipertensão, melhores resultados de saúde e avanços em direção aos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável 2030 e à cobertura universal de saúde.

Analysis of cigarette demand in Argentina: the impact of price changes on consumption and government revenues.

OBJECTIVE:: To estimate cigarette demand and to simulate a tax policy targeted to reduce tobacco consumption. MATERIALS AND METHODS:: Demand was estimated using a vector error correction model. Simulation exercises present the impact of a tax increase on consumption and revenues. RESULTS:: Changes in real income and the real price of cigarettes affect the demand for cigarettes in Argentina. The long term price elasticity is 0.279 (a 10% increase in real prices reduces cigarette consumption by 2.79% per quarter) and the long term income elasticity is 0.411 (a 10% increase in real income raises consumption by 4.11% per quarter). Even in a conservative scenario, simulations show that increasing the price of cigarettes by 100% using excise taxes would maximize revenues and reduce cigarette consumption. CONCLUSION:: There is sufficient room to increase taxes, reducing cigarette consumption, while still increasing tax revenues.

Real price and affordability as challenges for effective tobacco control policies: an analysis for Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the evolution of cigarettes' real price and affordability during the last decade in Argentina. METHODS: To analyze the real price of cigarettes, the weighted average monthly price of a pack of 20 cigarettes was divided by the consumer price index (CPI) from 2004 to 2014. The relative income price (RIP) was evaluated for the same period, defining RIP as the percentage of the income required to buy 100 packs of 20-per-pack cigarettes. The RIP was calculated for first-quartile, median, and third-quartile income groups. The lower the RIP, the higher the affordability. RESULTS: The nominal price of a pack of 20 cigarettes sold in Argentina increased from AR$ 2.24 in March 2004 to AR$ 14.36 in June 2014 (nominal price increase of about 19.7% per year). The real price fell from AR$ 2.24 in March 2004 to AR$ 2.11 in June 2014 (real price drop of about 0.6% per year). Between June 2004 and June 2014, the RIP decreased about 39% for the 3rd quartile income group (from 31.3% to 19.2%), about 42% for the median (from 55.7% to 32.0%), and about 50% for the 1st quartile (from 104.4% to 51.8%). CONCLUSIONS: In Argentina, inflation and rising income were greater than growth in cigarette prices. Cigarette affordability increased for each income group, with the highest shifts occurring among the poorest and most vulnerable income earners. The increased affordability of cigarettes might reduce the impact of implemented tobacco control policies.

[Prevalence of dyslipidemias in Mexico city and Its relation to other cardiovascular risk factors. Results from the CARMELA study]. / Prevalencia de dislipidemias en la ciudad de México y su asociación con otros factores de riesgo cardiovascular. Resultados del estudio CARMELA.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of dyslipidemias in Mexico city and its relation to other cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted to measure cardiovascular risk factors in Mexico City. All subjects were interviewed and anthropometric measures performed, as well as cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins (HDL-C) and triglycerides. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) values were calculated. Means- as well as dyslipidemia-weighted prevalence were measured, with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: 833 males and 889 females were studied. The prevalence of cholesterol ≥ 240 mg/dl was 16.4% (95% CI: 14.2-18.7), and 34.1% (95% CI: 31.6-36.5) had values between 200 and 240 mg/dl. Very high values of triglycerides were seen in 2.6% of studied subjects and 29.9% (95% CI: 26.9-32.8) had high values. The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was higher in males (43.3%) than females (23%). Mean values of assessed parameters were in general higher in those with other cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Lipid values in the population of Mexico City are high and so is the prevalence of dyslipidemias. There is an urgent need to implement health policies directed to diminish cardiovascular risk factors, mainly dyslipidemias.

More People, More Active, More Often for Heart Health - Taking Action on Physical Activity.

Physical inactivity is a leading contributor to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Almost 500 million new cases of preventable noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) will occur globally between 2020 and 2030 due to physical inactivity, costing just over US$300 billion, or around US$ 27 billion annually (WHO 2022). Active adults can achieve a reduction of up to 35% in risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Physical activity also helps in moderating cardiovascular disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, unhealthy weight and type 2 diabetes. For people with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and many cancers, physical activity is an established and evidence-based part of treatment and management. For children and young people, physical activity affords important health benefits. Physical activity can also achieve important cross-sector goals. Increased walking and cycling can reduce journeys by vehicles, air pollution, and traffic congestion and contribute to increased safety and liveability in cities.

The Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Cardiovascular Health: Myths and Measures.

Over the past several decades, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has nearly doubled, and alcohol has played a major role in the incidence of much of it. Alcohol has also been attributed in deaths due to infectious diseases, intentional and unintentional injuries, digestive diseases, and several other non-communicable diseases, including cancer. The economic costs of alcohol-associated health outcomes are significant at the individual as well as the country level. Risks due to alcohol consumption increase for most cardiovascular diseases, including hypertensive heart disease, cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation and flutter, and stroke. The widespread message for over 30 years has been to promote the myth that alcohol prolongs life, chiefly by reducing the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Lack of universal advice and stringent policy measures have contributed towards increased uptake and easy availability of alcohol. The WHO has called for a 10% relative reduction in the harmful use of alcohol between 2013-2025. However, lack of investment in proven alcohol control strategies, as well as persistence of misinformation and industry interference, have hindered the efforts of public health professionals to make sufficient progress in reducing alcohol related harms and death.

Hypertension Pharmacological Treatment in Adults: A World Health Organization Guideline Executive Summary.

Hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular disease and deaths worldwide especially in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the availability of safe, well-tolerated, and cost-effective blood pressure (BP)-lowering therapies, <14% of adults with hypertension have BP controlled to a systolic/diastolic BP <140/90 mm Hg. We report new hypertension treatment guidelines, developed in accordance with the World Health Organization Handbook for Guideline Development. Overviews of reviews of the evidence were conducted and summary tables were developed according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations approach. In these guidelines, the World Health Organization provides the most current and relevant evidence-based guidance for the pharmacological treatment of nonpregnant adults with hypertension. The recommendations pertain to adults with an accurate diagnosis of hypertension who have already received lifestyle modification counseling. The guidelines recommend BP threshold to initiate pharmacological therapy, BP treatment targets, intervals for follow-up visits, and best use of health care workers in the management of hypertension. The guidelines provide guidance for choice of monotherapy or dual therapy, treatment with single pill combination medications, and use of treatment algorithms for hypertension management. Strength of the recommendations was guided by the quality of the underlying evidence; the tradeoffs between desirable and undesirable effects; patient's values, resource considerations and cost-effectiveness; health equity; acceptability, and feasibility consideration of different treatment options. The goal of the guideline is to facilitate standard approaches to pharmacological treatment and management of hypertension which, if widely implemented, will increase the hypertension control rate world-wide.

Educational inequalities in obesity, abdominal obesity, and metabolic syndrome in seven Latin American cities: the CARMELA Study.

AIMS: Earlier reviews have found that the proportion of inverse associations between socioeconomic status and obesity increased according to the level of development of the studied country. Based on this finding, it has been hypothesized that in low- to middle- income countries the burden of obesity shifts to disadvantaged groups as a country develops. METHODS AND RESULTS: CARMELA is a cross-sectional, population-based observational study that sampled 11,550 women and men age 25-64 from seven major Latin American cities. We analyzed by gender the association of educational attainments (as proxy of socioeconomic status) with body mass index, waist circumference and metabolic syndrome. Participating cities were divided by country Human Development Index (HDI). An inverse gradient between socioeconomic status and body mass index in women was uniformly present in High HDI cities (Buenos Aires, Santiago, Mexico) but not in Medium HDI group (Barquisimeto, Bogota, Lima, Quito), where two cities showed an inverse gradient and two cities did not. In men, no clear socioeconomic gradients were found. Findings regarding waist circumference and metabolic syndrome closely mirrored those about body mass index. CONCLUSION: In women but not men, these results give support to the hypothesis of obesity shifting to the poor and extend it to the related concepts of abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome. Obesity should be considered as a socially-generated disease and an indicator of socioeconomic disadvantage, to be approached by comprehensive strategies that bear in mind this perspective.

Common carotid artery intima-media thickness: the Cardiovascular Risk Factor Multiple Evaluation in Latin America (CARMELA) study results.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of far wall common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCAIMT) has emerged as a predictor of incident cardiovascular events. The Cardiovascular Risk Factor Multiple Evaluation in Latin America (CARMELA) study was the first large-scale population-based assessment of both CCAIMT and cardiovascular risk factor prevalence in 7 Latin American cities; the relationship between CCAIMT and cardiovascular risk markers was assessed in these urban Latin American centers. METHODS: CARMELA was a cross-sectional, population-based, observational study using stratified, multistage sampling. The participants completed a questionnaire, were evaluated in a clinical visit and underwent carotid ultrasonography. Clinical measurements were obtained by health personnel trained, certified and supervised by CARMELA investigators. Mannheim intima-media thickness consensus guidelines were followed for measurement of CCAIMT. RESULTS: In all cities and for both sexes, CCAIMT increased with higher age. CCAIMT was greater in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors than in their absence. In all cities, there was a statistically significant linear trend between increasing CCAIMT and a growing number of cardiovascular risk factors (p < 0.001). After adjustment for age and sex, metabolic syndrome was strongly associated with increased CCAIMT (p < 0.001 in all cities), as were hypercholesterolemia, obesity and diabetes (p < 0.001 in most cities). By multivariate analysis, hypertension was independently associated with an increase in CCAIMT in all cities (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: CARMELA was the first large-scale population study to provide normal CCAIMT values according to age and sex in urban Latin American populations and to show CCAIMT increases in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome.

Dyslipidemia in seven Latin American cities: CARMELA study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of dyslipidemia in the CARMELA study population. METHODS: CARMELA was a cross-sectional study of cardiovascular risk conducted between September 2003 and August 2005 in adults (aged 25 to 64 years) living in Barquisimeto (n=1,824), Bogotá (n=1,511), Buenos Aires (n=1,412), Lima (n=1,628), Mexico City (n=1,677), Quito (n=1,620), and Santiago (n=1,605). Dyslipidemia was defined as the presence of one or more of the following conditions: triglycerides>/=200 mg/dL, or total cholesterol (TC)>/=240 mg/dL, or HDL cholesterol<40 mg/dL, or LDL cholesterol=not optimal, or currently taking antilipemic agents. RESULTS: Prevalence rates of dyslipidemia in men and women were: 75.5% (CI: 71.9-79.1) and 48.7% (CI: 45.4-51.9) in Barquisimeto; 70% (CI: 66.2-73.8) and 47.7% (CI: 43.9-51.5) in Bogotá; 50.4% (CI: 46.8-54.0) and 24.1% (CI: 21.0-27.2) in Buenos Aires; 73.1% (CI: 69.3-76.8) and 62.8% (CI: 59.2-66.5) in Lima; 62.5% (CI: 58.5-66.5) and 37.5% (CI: 33.5-41.6) in Mexico City; 52.2% (CI: 47.9-56.5) and 38.1% (CI: 34.5-41.7) in Quito; and, 50.8% (CI: 47.1-54.4) and 32.8% (CI: 29.3-36.3) in Santiago. CONCLUSIONS: Dyslipidemia was disturbingly prevalent and varied across cities. The most frequent dyslipidemia was low HDL-C followed by high triglycerides. The high TC/HDL-C ratios and non-HDL-C levels suggest a high risk of cardiovascular disease.

The role of organized civil society in tobacco control in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Civil society has been the engine that has permitted many of the accomplishments seen in tobacco control in Latin America and the Caribbean. However, the role of civil society is not clearly understood. Civil society plays five main roles: advocate, coalition builder, provider of evidence-based information, watchdog and service provider. Some of these roles are played weakly by civil society in the region and should be encouraged to support beneficial societal change. Civil society working in tobacco control has evolved over the years to now become more professionalized. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use have brought about significant change with positive and negative consequences. Strengthening civil society not only supports the tobacco control movement but it provides competencies that may be used in many ways to promote change in democratic societies.

Body Fat Percentage Rather than Body Mass Index Related to the High Occurrence of Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes prevalence estimation and reduction of its risk factors remain the major goals of health services. While obesity is the major risk factor for diabetes, body fat distribution may be a better predictor. AIMS: To estimate the prevalence of diabetes in an adult working population in Mexico City, and to evaluate the strength of association with different risk factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in two city halls of Mexico City. Anthropometrics, blood pressure, physical activity, diet, and biochemical parameters were assessed. Diabetes was defined as a fasting plasma glucose level ≥7.0 mmol/l or referred diabetes. The bioelectrical impedance analysis of body components was performed and weight, soft lean mass, body fat percentage and abdominal fat were obtained. Prevalence with 95% confidence intervals was estimated, as well as odds ratios derived from a logistic regression model. RESULTS: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was 11.0% (95% CI 9.6-12.4%). The proportion of individuals with diabetes who were unaware of having the disease was higher in women (42.5 vs. 36.9%), and the degree of metabolic control was better in women (39.1 vs. 25.0%). Age, blood pressure, triglycerides and the percentage of body fat, were major risk factors related to the occurrence of type 2 diabetes. No relation was observed with physical activity and diet. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Mexico continues to be high and obesity measured by body fat percentage seems to be a better predictor of its occurrence than body mass index.

World Heart Federation Policy Brief: Front-Of-Pack Labelling: Unhealthy Changes in the Global Food System.

On World Food Day, the World Heart Federation calls on governments to implement mandatory front-of-pack food labels. The World Heart Federation (WHF) has developed a new policy brief on front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) aimed at improving global standards on nutrition and creating healthy food environments. Poor diet is responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other risk factor, and is a leading cause of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Global estimates suggest that almost 2.3 billion children and adults are overweight. The growing availability of ultra-processed foods, which contain high levels of sugars, sodium, saturated fats and refined carbohydrates, is a key contributor to the current obesity epidemic, which is increasingly impacting low- and middle-income countries. The WHF Front-of-Pack Labelling Policy Brief highlights front-of-pack labelling as a way to create environments where consumers are able to make better informed, healthier food choices for themselves and their families. Currently, a wide variety of front-of-pack labelling systems have been implemented by governments and food manufacturers around the world, with varying levels of success. The new WHF Policy Brief provides evidence-based, practical guidance that can be adapted to local contexts. It highlights that in order the be implemented successfully, FOPL systems must take into account consumer literacy and prevailing cultural norms around food and nutrition. FOPL must be mandatory, government-led, and accompanied by broad public nutrition education initiatives. The WHF Policy Brief includes a set of policy recommendations to give governments the tools they need to select the FOPL system that will best meet the needs of their populations, including recommendations on how to develop an effective FOPL programme, how to implement it successfully, and how to monitor and evaluate outcomes.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Latin America and its association with sub-clinical carotid atherosclerosis: the CARMELA cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome increases cardiovascular risk. Limited information on its prevalence in Latin America is available. The Cardiovascular Risk Factor Multiple Evaluation in Latin America (CARMELA) study included assessment of metabolic syndrome in 7 urban Latin American populations. METHODS: CARMELA was a cross-sectional, population-based, observational study conducted in Barquisimeto, Venezuela; Bogota, Colombia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Lima, Peru; Mexico City, Mexico; Quito, Ecuador; and Santiago, Chile. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome, defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III), and associated carotid atherosclerosis were investigated in 11,502 participants aged 25 to 64 years. RESULTS: Across CARMELA cities, metabolic syndrome was most prevalent in Mexico City (27%) and Barquisimeto (26%), followed by Santiago (21%), Bogota (20%), Lima (18%), Buenos Aires (17%), and Quito (14%). In nondiabetic participants, prevalence was slightly lower but followed a comparable ranking. Overall, 59%, 59%, and 73% of women with high triglycerides, hypertension, or glucose abnormalities, respectively, and 64%, 48% and 71% of men with abdominal obesity, hypertension, or glucose abnormalities, respectively, had the full metabolic syndrome. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased with age, markedly so in women. Mean common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCAIMT) and prevalence of carotid plaque increased steeply with increasing numbers of metabolic syndrome components; mean CCAIMT was higher and plaque more prevalent in participants with metabolic syndrome than without. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components by NCEP ATP III criteria was substantial across cities, ranging from 14% to 27%. CARMELA findings, including evidence of the association of metabolic syndrome and carotid atherosclerosis, should inform appropriate clinical and public health interventions.

Analysis of a voluntary initiative to reduce sodium in processed and ultra-processed food products in Argentina: the views of public and private sector representatives.

The Less Salt, More Life program was the first voluntary salt reduction initiative in Argentina. This article analyzes the perspectives of the stakeholders involved in this voluntary agreement between the Ministry of Health and the food industry to gradually reduce sodium content in processed foods. This exploratory case study used a qualitative approach including 29 in-depth interviews with stakeholders from the public and private sectors and identified the role of the different stakeholders and their perceptions regarding the challenges encountered in the policy process that contribute to the debate on public-private partnerships in health policies. The article also discusses the initiative's main challenges and controversies.

Civil society’s role in improving hypertension control in Latin America

[ABSTRACT]. Despite effort in Latin America to implement the HEARTS initiative, hypertension control is still inadequate. There are many advances in the medical and technical arena, but little to promote political and systemic change. The vibrant civil society that has advanced policy change in tobacco control, food policy, and other public health initiatives can make a crucial contribution to prioritize hypertension control in the political agenda, ensure sustainable funding, promote the procurement of affordable and effective medications, and expand community demand for action. The recommended first step for civil society’s involvement is to analyze the political landscape to design an advocacy plan. The political landscape includes a legal analysis, policy mapping, stakeholders mapping, identifying obstacles, mapping community strategies, and risk assessment. The second step is to define policy goals and an advocacy strategy. Based on experience, there would be two main policy goals: to increase political will to make hypertension a top priority, securing necessary resources; and strengthen community awareness and social demand for action. The third step is to develop and implement the advocacy plan with the tools familiar to civil society, including building a case for support, advocacy towards decision makers, media advocacy, coalition building, countering the opposition, and civil society monitoring and accountability. To jumpstart this approach, there should be incentives for civil society and a transition for transferring competencies to a new arena. The results would be more sustainable and scalable hypertension control, better health outcomes, and advances toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and universal health coverage.

[RESUMEN]. A pesar de los esfuerzos para poner en marcha la iniciativa HEARTS en América Latina, el control de la hipertensión sigue siendo inadecuado. Ha habido muchos avances en el ámbito médico y técnico, pero poco ha logrado hacerse para promover el cambio político y sistémico. La vibrante sociedad civil que ha logrado avances en el cambio de políticas sobre el control del tabaco, las políticas relacionadas con los alimentos y otras iniciativas de salud pública puede realizar una contribución crucial para que se dé prioridad al control de la hipertensión en la agenda política, se garantice la financiación sostenible, se promueva la compra de medicamentos asequibles y efectivos, y se amplíe la demanda de medidas por parte de la comunidad. El primer paso recomendado para lograr la participación de la sociedad civil es analizar el panorama político para diseñar un plan para abogar por la causa. El panorama político incluye el análisis legal, el mapeo de políticas y de las partes interesadas, la definición de los obstáculos y las estrategias comunitarias, y la evaluación de riesgos. El segundo paso es definir los objetivos de las políticas y diseñar una estrategia para abogar por la causa. Con base en la experiencia, las políticas tendrían dos objetivos principales: lograr una mayor voluntad política para convertir la hipertensión en una prioridad absoluta, asegurando los recursos necesarios, y fortalecer la concientización de la comunidad y la demanda de acción por parte de la sociedad. El tercer paso es elaborar y ejecutar un plan para abogar por la causa con herramientas familiares para la sociedad civil, lo que incluye buscar argumentos para lograr el apoyo, abogar ante los responsables de tomar decisiones y los medios de comunicación, crear coaliciones, contrarrestar la oposición, dar seguimiento a la sociedad civil y establecer mecanismos de rendición de cuentas de la sociedad civil. Para impulsar este enfoque, debería haber incentivos para la sociedad civil y una transición para la transferencia de competencias en un nuevo escenario. Los resultados serían un control de la hipertensión más sostenible y ampliable, mejores resultados de salud y avances hacia los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible de la Agenda 2030 y la cobertura universal de salud.

[RESUMO]. Apesar dos esforços feitos na América Latina para implementar a iniciativa HEARTS, o controle da hipertensão arterial continua sendo inadequado. Houve muitos avanços na área médica e técnica, mas pouco no sentido de promover mudanças políticas e sistêmicas. A sociedade civil vibrante que impulsionou mudanças nas políticas de controle do tabaco, na política de alimentação e em outras iniciativas de saúde pública pode fazer uma contribuição fundamental no sentido de priorizar o controle da hipertensão na agenda política, garantir financiamento sustentável, promover a aquisição de medicamentos eficazes a preços acessíveis e aumentar a demanda da comunidade por ações. Recomenda-se que o primeiro passo para envolver a sociedade civil seja uma análise do cenário político para elaborar um plano de promoção da causa. O cenário político inclui análise jurídica, mapeamento de políticas, mapeamento de interessados diretos, identificação de obstáculos, mapeamento de estratégias comunitárias e avaliação de riscos. O segundo passo é definir metas para as políticas e uma estratégia de promoção da causa. Com base em experiências anteriores, as políticas teriam duas metas principais: aumentar o compromisso político de dar prioridade máxima à hipertensão, assegurando os recursos necessários, e fortalecer a conscientização da comunidade e a demanda social por ações. O terceiro passo é desenvolver e implementar o plano de promoção da causa utilizando ferramentas já familiares para a sociedade civil, como a elaboração de argumentos para obter apoio, a defesa da causa junto a tomadores de decisão, a promoção nos meios de comunicação, a formação de coalizões, o combate a oponentes e o monitoramento e responsabilização da sociedade civil. Para alavancar essa abordagem, deve haver incentivos para a sociedade civil, com uma transição para a transferência de competências para uma nova área. Os resultados seriam um controle mais sustentável e expansível da hipertensão, melhores resultados de saúde e avanços em direção aos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável 2030 e à cobertura universal de saúde.