August 25, 2026
The Caribbean is preparing for a significantly larger cancer burden, with new cases projected to rise by about 55%, from 123,884 in 2024 to 191,997 by 2050.
Against that backdrop, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Caribbean Association for Oncology and Hematology (CAOH) have entered a five-year partnership to strengthen cancer prevention, treatment and control across the region, stated a joint press release.
The agreement, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding, will focus on cancer surveillance, professional training, research, nutrition, public education and access to safe, quality-assured cancer medicines.
“Regional collaboration has always been one of the Caribbean’s greatest strengths, and this partnership provides an important opportunity to bring together technical expertise, regional data and public health action to strengthen prevention, early detection, cancer control and access to quality-assured medicines”, said CARPHA Executive Director Dr. Lisa Indar.
CAOH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Marisa Nimrod said the agreement will expand opportunities for training, research and professional collaboration.
“Through this partnership with CARPHA, our members will benefit from joint programmes, regional training, research collaboration, professional networking, and opportunities to contribute to strengthening cancer surveillance and advancing Caribbean cancer policy and programme development”.
CARPHA indicated that it will provide technical support through its Chronic Disease and Injury Department, Caribbean Regulatory System and Medicines Quality Control and Surveillance Department.
Mr. Francis Burnett, Interim Head of the Pooled Procurement Services (PPS) Unit, OECS, CARPHA’s Dr. Chantelle Bailey, (seated at head table) and Ms. Nicole Ennis (virtual) welcome participants at the start of the hybrid technical session at the 14th CAOH 2026 Annual Scientific Conference at the Trinidad Hilton. Also present at the session are CARPHA’s Dr. Heather Armstrong, Head, CDI and Ms. Sarah Quesnel-Crooks, Programme Coordinator, IARC Caribbean Cancer Registry Hub.
The partnership will also strengthen cancer registry data, promote healthy lifestyles, improve workplace safety around hazardous cancer medicines and enhance pharmacovigilance and post-market monitoring of oncology drugs.
The organizations’ first joint initiative took place at CAOH’s 14th Annual Scientific Conference on July 17, 2026. CARPHA officials Dr. Chantelle Bailey and Nicole Ennis led a hybrid panel on medicines quality, pharmacovigilance and post-market surveillance in oncology care.
Discussions addressed substandard and falsified medicines, laboratory testing, regulatory cooperation, adverse drug reaction reporting, and risk-based monitoring.
CARPHA said the collaboration will support safer treatment and stronger, more resilient health systems across its Member States.
