Deputy Secretary-General Highlights Collective Action for Advancing the CARICOM Regional Health Agenda

Deputy Secretary-General Dr Armstrong Alexis underscored the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) commitment to advancing regional health priorities during the Special Session “Advancing the Caribbean Regional Health Agenda”, convened on the sidelines of the Regional Advisory Committee Meeting on the OECS Regional Health Project, in collaboration with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) on 17 June in Washington DC.

Speaking to regional stakeholders and partners, Dr Alexis emphasised CARICOM’s unique role in providing governance, political leadership, and convening power to strengthen cooperation across Member States.

“CARICOM’s primary contribution is not to provide funding, but to offer governance. We coordinate policies that are implemented by Member States. In this way, we prioritise health as a key regional development goal, build consensus among Member States, and rally political support to maintain investment and progress,” Dr Alexis said.

CARICOM’s Commitments

Dr Alexis outlined CARICOM’s commitment to champion health as a pillar of resilience and human capital development; facilitate political consensus and collective decision-making; coordinate Member States, regional institutions, and partners; provide platforms for policy dialogue, advocacy, accountability, and monitoring; and mobilise high-level political support for resource mobilisation with development partners.

Comparative Advantage and Partnerships

Highlighting CARICOM’s comparative advantage, Dr Alexis noted the Community’s ability to convene, coordinate, and secure political commitment across diverse Member States.

“In a Region of small states facing shared vulnerabilities, CARICOM provides the forum for countries to identify common priorities, pursue collective solutions, and advocate with one voice,” he said.

CARICOM’s role, he stressed, is to ensure these contributions are aligned with Member State priorities and integrated into a coherent regional health agenda.

Defining Success

Dr Alexis emphasised that the policy and governance support from the Secretariat ought to lead to implementation at the national level, and that “closing the loop” through implementation is the only way the citizens of the Community will benefit. He underscored that success must be measured not by the number of meetings or frameworks but by tangible improvements in health outcomes and resilience interventions that secure a viable, sustainable and prosperous society for all citizens of the Caribbean Community.

He also noted that success would be defined by equitable access to stronger regional public goods, the establishment of robust health security mechanisms capable of withstanding pandemics and climate shocks, and the development and retention of a resilient health workforce.

“Additionally, success would entail achieving sustainable health financing across Member States, revitalising primary health care to support universal health coverage, and accelerating progress in addressing non-communicable diseases, mental health, and cancer. Enhanced efficiency through pooled approaches and shared services, improved data access and sharing, and deeper regional integration would also serve as key indicators of success,” stated Dr Alexis.

“Most importantly, success means that citizens in any CARICOM Member State experience better access to quality health services because regional cooperation is working,” emphasised the DSG. “The greatest strength of the Caribbean Community has always been its ability to act collectively when our interests are aligned. In today’s global landscape, we must cooperate more strategically.”

Dr Alexis reaffirmed the CARICOM Secretariat’s readiness to work with Member States, Associate Members, regional institutions, and development partners to transform shared priorities into stronger health systems and improved lives for the people of the Community.

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