ECLAC has completed the pilot study "Impactos sociales y económicos de la doble carga de la malnutrición", carried out in Chile, Ecuador and Mexico. This study, carried out within the framework of the current agreement with the World Food Program (WFP), satisfactorily verified the methodology designed to estimate countries’ social and economic burden associated with malnutrition and obesity in children and adults. The results were officially presented in Mexico, at the end of April, by the Executive Secretary. They were also presented in July at the meeting of the Interamerican task force on noncommunicable diseases, and in October at the WFP annual meeting in Rome. Several countries in the region have already expressed their interest in replicating it as it provides very relevant data for the legislative debate on healthy eating. In terms of digital health, the technical assistance process for monitoring and evaluating the "Salud digital.uy" program in Uruguay continues and a similar line of work has been incorporated in Chile for the "Health + Development" program that drives the Development Corporation (CORFO) of the Ministry of Economy together with the Ministry of Health.
In the framework of a CEPAL-UNICEF project, case studies on social protection in childhood were carried out in Ecuador and Peru, which included an analysis component on the morbidity and mortality of children and adolescents in those countries, as well as an analysis of the mechanisms of social protection in health / nutrition for these populations.

Activities include:

The pilot study "Impactos sociales y económicos de la doble carga de la malnutrición" with the Agreement with the World Food Program since 2003 on nutrition, tests a methodology of estimation of the social and economic burden in countries, for kids and adults, related with malnutrition and overweight and obesity. In this pilot Chile, Ecuador and Mexico have participated and the replication of the study is expected in other countries.

In regards to digital health, a methodology has been designed for processes analysis and impact evaluations. This has been discussed in some international meetings and in a publication with the TIC Center of Brazil (CETIC.br) and is currently being applied in Uruguay with the "Salud digital.uy" program with technical assistance by ECLAC.

Based on the agreement between ECLAC and UNICEF, there are two ongoing studies concerning social protection for youth in Ecuador and Peru. These studies include a special focus on morbidity and mortality of youth in those countries, and offer an analysis of social protection mechanisms related with health and nutrition. It is expected that these studies make a contribution to the empowerment of social protection systems and in reducing the poverty and inequality in youths.

With regard to comprehensive health care, its globalization and prevention of financial risks, ECLAC presented a study on out of pocket and catastrophic spending during the VI Andean Forum on Health and Economy and International Workshop on Health Accounts organized by the Andean Health Organization (August, 2015). Also, in partnership with UNAIDS, ECLAC is developing a diagnostic study of HIV / AIDS in the region, its impact on spending and financing requirements for prevention and treatment, which will be presented at the High Level Meeting of the General Assembly United Nations on AIDS (June, 2016). ECLAC also maintains an active collaboration with countries in the field of digital health through participation in regional meetings at the technical level. In addition, ECLAC organized the Second Latin American Meeting Urban Health Network to share research findings in this area and identify opportunities for exchange and collaboration (March, 2016).


Moreover, as a member of the Inter-American Working Group on Non communicable diseases, ECLAC is preparing a pilot study with estimates and projections of health spending in non communicable diseases in Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago for the period 2015-2045, a study with special attention to the impact of an aging population. In addition, ECLAC published a book about Youth: realities and challenges for development with equality (October, 2015), which contains a chapter on the health of young people and their challenges for the region. Moreover, ECLAC continues to make significant efforts to strengthen food and nutrition strategies. Also ECLAC published a document titled: “Closing the gap: model to estimate the cost of eradicating chronic malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies“(May, 2015). In addition ECLAC also presented the final assessment report of the program "Improving Food and Nutrition in Antioquia" (Colombia - December 2015). Finally, In agreement with the World Food Program, the first phase of the study was initiated to assess the social and economic impacts of malnutrition (malnutrition, obesity and overweight) in the region, especially addressing its relationship to chronic no communicable diseases.