The Caribbean Public Health Agency and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening public health systems across the Eastern Caribbean following a high-level meeting held on March 5, 2026.
Senior officials from both organisations convened to advance their longstanding partnership, focusing on improving health security, pharmaceutical services, and overall resilience of health systems in the sub-region. The meeting also reviewed existing collaboration frameworks and identified priority areas for deeper coordination in response to evolving public health challenges.
A key outcome of the discussions was the planned renewal of a Letter of Agreement (LOA) between CARPHA’s Tourism and Health Program (THP) and the OECS Commission. The agreement supports initiatives aimed at safeguarding the health and safety of tourism workers and visitors, an essential concern for OECS Member States, where tourism remains a major economic driver.
“The renewal of this LOA represents a decisive window for action, one that will define the health of tourism-dependent OECS communities and the resilience of economies throughout the sub-region. This partnership brings a synergy between novel Caribbean tailored predictive analytics, field-level vigilance, and proactive leadership that will enhance how the OECS navigates seasonal disease threats.” said Dr Lisa Indar of CARPHA.
The meeting also addressed ongoing collaboration between CARPHA’s Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS) and Medicines Quality Control and Surveillance Department (MQCSD), and the OECS Pharmaceutical Procurement Service (PPS). These mechanisms are designed to ensure access to safe, effective, and quality-assured medicines across the region. Officials explored ways to strengthen this arrangement to further enhance regional health security.
“The OECS Commission values its partnership with CARPHA and recognises the importance of these discussions in improving coordination. By refining our processes and adopting more effective ways of working, we aim to strengthen collaboration and achieve greater synergy with our partners. We welcome opportunities to further enhance this relationship, acknowledging its vital role in advancing our strategic priorities, particularly that of regional integration, and in supporting the achievement of our development goals.” said Dr Roxanne Brizan-Martin.
Both organisations also underscored the importance of engaging regional and international partners to strengthen health systems resilience. They emphasized that tackling complex health challenges, including non-communicable diseases, climate-related risks, and emergency preparedness, requires coordinated action not only within the region but also with multilateral agencies and global health institutions.
The upcoming CARPHA Regional Health Security meeting in June was highlighted as a key milestone for advancing a unified Caribbean approach to health security. The OECS Commission confirmed it will actively participate and present joint initiatives at the forum.
Officials noted that small island developing states in the Caribbean continue to face significant and evolving public health pressures, reinforcing the need for strong regional collaboration.
Central to this partnership is CARPHA’s dedicated Senior Technical Officer for the OECS, based in Castries, Saint Lucia. The role serves as a critical link between regional institutions and national health ministries, ensuring that public health needs are effectively identified and addressed, while strengthening coordination and accountability across the sub-region.
Both CARPHA and the OECS Commission reaffirmed that their renewed collaboration represents a vital step toward improving health outcomes and building more resilient health systems for the people of the Eastern Caribbean.