CARICOM, PAHO, Inter-American Development Bank, and World Bank have joined forces to operationalize the regional Digital Health Strategy mandated by CARICOM Heads of Government

​Photo: Fifty-Third Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development – Health (COHSOD-Health)
 
The Caribbean Community, the Pan American Health Organization, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the World Bank have joined forces to operationalize the regional Digital Health Strategy mandated by CARICOM Heads of Government. This major partnership was finalized during the Fifty-Third Meeting of the CARICOM Council for Human and Social Development, held from September 25–26, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
 
Attended by regional health ministers, chief medical officers, and representatives from institutions like CARPHA and The University of the West Indies, the meeting focused on leveraging digital innovation to strengthen healthcare delivery, workforce management, public health surveillance, and evidence-informed decision-making across member states.
 
Ministers reaffirmed that the initiative must remain a CARICOM-led, member state-driven process that builds upon existing national frameworks and investments. Hon. Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness of Belize who served as Acting Chair on the meeting’s first day, pointed to his country’s progress in digital health as an example of how stronger health information systems improve planning and clinical care.
 
Current COHSOD Chair and Guyana’s Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony, presided over the second day, during which delegates and international partners also outlined practical mechanisms to achieve universal health coverage and establish sustainable financing frameworks across the Caribbean.