CARPHA and OECS Commission Reaffirm Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Regional Public Health

On March 5, 2026, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission convened a high-level meeting to reaffirm and advance their strategic partnership in strengthening public health systems across the Eastern Caribbean. The engagement focused on accelerating joint action in health security, pharmaceutical services, and broader health systems resilience. Senior representatives from both institutions reviewed existing collaboration frameworks and identified priority areas for deepened coordination to better respond to the region’s evolving public health challenges.

The discussions centred on two principal areas of collaboration: first, the renewal of a Letter of Agreement (LOA) between CARPHA's Tourism and Health Program (THP) and the OECS Commission, a flagship initiative supporting the health and safety of Caribbean tourism workers and visitors. Both parties are committed to expediting the renewal of this agreement, which provides the formal framework for CARPHA’s technical support to the OECS in health promotion, disease surveillance, food safety, and environmental health within the tourism sector. Given that tourism is a key pillar of the economies of most OECS Member States, the LOA plays a vital role in ensuring the industry operates within robust public health standards that protect both workers and the millions of visitors who travel to the region each year.

“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.” Dr Lisa Indar, CARPHA.

Second, a review of the ongoing partnership between CARPHA’s Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS) and Medicines Quality Control and Surveillance Department (MQCSD) and the OECS Pharmaceutical Procurement Service (PPS) aimed at ensuring the availability of quality-assured medicines and medical countermeasures across the region. The CRS, operating under a mandate from CARICOM Heads of Government, provides quality assurance recommendations for medicines procured across the region, supporting Member States’ access to safe and effective pharmaceutical products. Discussions explored ways to deepen this arrangement to further bolster the region’s health security capacity.

“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.” Dr Roxanne Brizan-Martin, OECS Commission.

The importance of engagement with regional and international partners to unlock opportunities for strengthening health systems resilience across OECS countries was also highlighted, with both CARPHA and the OECS Commission emphasising that addressing the region’s complex health challenges required coordinated action not only between regional institutions, but also in partnership with multilateral agencies, development partners, and global health institutions. Both organisations are committed to actively pursuing and aligning such partnerships to maximise impact and resource allocation across the OECS Member States. This strategic engagement is aimed at harmonising activities and identifying collaborative programming in health systems resilience, non-communicable disease prevention, laboratory capacity, and emergency preparedness.

The meeting also highlighted the significance of CARPHA’s Regional Health Security meeting planned for June, which is expected to be a major milestone in advancing the Caribbean’s collective approach to health security. The OECS Commission confirmed its intention to participate actively and to present joint positions and initiatives at that forum.

Caribbean small island states face complex and evolving public health challenges, including the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, climate-related health risks, and the need to build resilient health systems. Both CARPHA and the OECS Commission acknowledged that a strong, coordinated regional partnership is essential to meeting these challenges effectively, and that the renewed collaboration represents a critical commitment to the health and well-being of people in the Eastern Caribbean.

Central to CARPHA’s sustained support to the OECS is the dedicated Senior Technical Officer (STO) for the OECS, a jointly supervised position that exemplifies the institutional depth of the CARPHA–OECS Commission partnership. Based in Castries, Saint Lucia and operating under the dual oversight of CARPHA’s Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control and the OECS Commission’s Programme Director for Health, the STO serves as a dedicated liaison and technical resource embedded within the sub-region. This role ensures that the in-country public health needs of OECS Member States are systematically identified, that CARPHA’s services and work programme are responsive and relevant to those needs, and that clear lines of communication and accountability are maintained with national Ministries of Health, regional bodies, and development partners. This embedded focal point model reflects both organisations' shared conviction that sustainable health progress in the OECS sub-region requires not only strong institutional agreements, but dedicated personnel to drive implementation forward.

CARPHA Participants: Dr Lisa Indar (Executive Director); Dr Horace Cox (Director, SDPC); Dr Mark Sami (Director of Corporate Services); Mr Chatoyer Bobb (Senior Technical Officer, OECS Health Desk); Mrs Nikhella Winter-Reece (Technical Officer, SDPC); and Ms Hazel Ann Bobb Maxime (Executive Assistant to the Executive Director).

OECS Commission Participants: Dr Roxanne Brizan-St. Martin (Programme Director, Health, Social Protection and Social Inclusion); Ms Chrisline Montoute (Programme Assistant, DCRM); Mr Jamaine Atwell (Programme Officer, DCRM); Ms Claudia Mc Dowell (Communications Officer); and Ms Maria Fowell (Senior Technical Specialist, Tourism).

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