The global health community was saddened to learn of the passing of Dr María del Rocío Sáenz Madrigal in Costa Rica on 15 March 2026. A physician, public health leader and former Minister of Health of Costa Rica, Dr Sáenz was widely respected for her commitment to health equity and for advancing systems approaches to strengthening health systems.
Throughout her career, Dr Sáenz emphasized that health outcomes are shaped by the social production of health – the economic, political and social conditions shaping people’s lives. Her work highlighted how inequities in these conditions are reflected in health outcomes, and why strengthening health systems requires addressing the interconnected social determinants of health through coordinated policy action.
Dr Sáenz held several senior leadership roles within Costa Rica’s health system, including serving as Minister of Health from 2002 to 2006 – the first woman to do so – and later as Executive President of the Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social (the Costa Rican Social Security Fund). In these roles she advocated strongly for primary health care, universal health coverage and strong public institutions to promote equity and social protection.
Beyond her national leadership, Dr Sáenz was an active contributor to the global health policy and systems research community. She contributed to Alliance policy dialogues bringing together researchers and policy-makers to address emerging health system challenges. During a consultation on digital health convened in London in December 2023 – an early step toward what would later become the Alliance Policy-maker Forum – she emphasized that digital transformation must be guided by equity and rooted in strong public health systems.
She also played an important role in advancing systems thinking approaches in health through her engagement with the Systems Thinking Accelerator (SYSTAC), a global initiative that connected researchers, policy-makers and practitioners interested in applying systems thinking tools to complex health challenges.
The Alliance helped catalyse the SYSTAC network as a global platform to strengthen the use of systems thinking in health, but it was the dedicated leadership and commitment of individuals across regions – including Dr Sáenz – that helped nurture and expand the community.
Dr Kumanan Rasanathan, Executive Director of the Alliance, reflected on her contribution:
Dr Sáenz’s work helped strengthen the bridge between research, policy and practice. Her commitment to systems thinking, social justice and primary health care continues to resonate across the health policy and systems research community.
Her legacy will endure in the networks she helped build and in the ongoing efforts of researchers and policy-makers working to strengthen equitable and resilient health systems around the world.