CARIBBEAN-Caribbean and hemispheric health ministers to meet next week.

WASHINGTON, CMC – Barbados Minister of Health and Wellness Lisa Cummins will address the opening ceremony of the 63rd Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Directing Council, which begins here on September 28.

Cummins, also the outgoing President of the Directing Council, will address the four-day conference, which will review major public health advances and challenges in the Region and consider adopting new policies, strategies, and plans of action that will shape regional cooperation in the years ahead.

In addition to Cummins, PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa and senior representatives of the United States government, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) are also expected to participate.

Following the opening session, Dr. Barbosa will present his annual report on the health situation in the Americas, highlighting progress in disease elimination, immunization coverage, digital Health, maternal Health, emergency preparedness and response, and access to vaccines, medicines, and other health technologies.

Among the major issues to be discussed and considered for adoption are the Strategy for Strengthening Health Emergency and Risk Management for Health Security 2026–2031, aimed at enhancing preparedness, detection, and response to epidemics, disasters, and other health emergencies, as well as the Plan of Action on Antimicrobial Resistance 2027–2031, designed to accelerate action against one of the Region’s growing public health threats through a One Health approach.

The meeting will also discuss the Integrated Management Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Arboviral Diseases 2026–2035, intended to strengthen responses to diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Oropouche, as well as the Strategy and Plan of Action on Food Safety 2026–2031, aimed at strengthening national food safety systems and reducing the burden of foodborne diseases.

Delegates will also review reports on the implementation of the PAHO Strategic Plan 2020–2025, the Organization’s financial situation, implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR), the PAHO Forward initiative, and progress on disease elimination, One Health, cervical cancer, health promotion, genomic surveillance, and data science.

Health in the Americas

During the week, PAHO will launch Health in the Americas 2026: Prioritizing Avertible Disease Burden to Maximize Impact, the latest edition of the Organization’s flagship publication. The report examines the leading causes of disability and premature mortality in the Region, analyzes health financing trends, and identifies interventions with the greatest potential to improve health outcomes and guide public health decision-making.

Following the Directing Council, Ministers of Health and national delegations will participate in additional governance meetings, including the 78th Session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Americas and the 179th Session of PAHO’s Executive Committee.

A special briefing session, “Reforming the Global Health Architecture,” will take place on October 2, focusing on challenges and opportunities to strengthen global health cooperation and governance.