PORT OF SPAIN – A landmark regional conference has set the stage for a transformative digital health revolution across the Caribbean. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group, hosting the ONE Caribbean Connect Regional Policy Dialogue in Trinidad and Tobago, successfully convened a coalition of leading health and technology institutions to forge a unified path toward secure, cross-border health data exchange.
The high-level dialogue brought together a powerful consortium of regional bodies, including the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Delegations from seven Caribbean nations—The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and host Trinidad and Tobago—participated in intensive strategic planning sessions.
Central to the discussions was the urgent need to establish interoperable digital health systems that can seamlessly share critical health information across national borders. This initiative builds upon the foundational work of the Pan-American Highway for Digital Health (PH4H), a collaborative framework established by the IDB and PAHO.
CARPHA’s delegation, led by Executive Director Dr. Lisa Indar, played a pivotal role in the proceedings. The agency demonstrated its advanced digital surveillance capabilities, particularly its real-time, integrated early warning and response surveillance systems (REIWSS), which are being implemented through a Pandemic Fund Grant with the IDB as a key partner.
The conference yielded a major strategic outcome: the formal adoption of the ONE Caribbean Digital Health Roadmap Commitment. This comprehensive document outlines concrete priority actions across three critical domains: establishing robust governance structures, developing supportive legal and policy frameworks, and ensuring technical interoperability. The roadmap sets an ambitious target for the initiation of cross-national health data sharing by 2028.
Technical expertise flowed from multiple directions throughout the event. IDB representatives facilitated crucial strategy sessions, while PAHO contributed specialized knowledge in digital health and surveillance systems. CARICOM provided valuable insights on regional digital transformation through its leadership in information and communication technology for development.
The collective effort represents a significant leap forward in regional health cooperation, positioning the Caribbean to better respond to public health challenges through enhanced data-driven decision-making and coordinated outbreak response capabilities.