CARPHA and the Caribbean Association for Oncology and Hematology have formalised a new five-year partnership aimed at strengthening the Caribbean’s response to the significant and growing burden of cancer.
According to the Global Cancer Observatory, annual new cancer cases for the region are projected to increase by approximately 55%, from 123,884 in 2024 to 191,997 by 2050.
CARPHA says the Caribbean already experiences some of the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the Americas, placing enormous demands on health systems, economies, and communities.
The partnership will provide a collaborative framework for joint action in cancer surveillance, prevention, workforce development, nutrition, access to safe and quality-assured cancer medicines, and public awareness.
CARPHA and CAOH will collaborate on key areas, such as:
- Workforce development and professional training
- Support for research and knowledge exchange
- Promote healthy nutrition and physical activity as key cancer prevention strategies
- Strengthen workplace safety related to hazardous cancer medicines
- Improve regional systems for medicines quality assurance, pharmacovigilance and post-market surveillance of oncology medicines.
CARPHA’s Executive Director, Dr. Lisa Indar, has welcomed the partnership, saying no single institution can address the growing burden of cancer alone: “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”.
Under the MoU, CARPHA will provide technical leadership and support through relevant technical departments, including its Chronic Disease and Injury Department (CDI), Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS), and Medicines Quality Control and Surveillance Department (MQCSD).
Meanwhile, CAOH CEO, Dr. Marisa Nimrod, said the partnership represents an important step towards strengthening regional collaboration in oncology and haematology: “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”.
