The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) today officially launched its Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Regional Reference Laboratory in Jamaica, marking the completion of a rapid and critical transformative regional initiative to modernise CARPHA’s regional laboratory referral network, expansion and enhanced accessibility for its services and strengthening antimicrobial resistance surveillance and diagnostic capacity across the Caribbean. This marks a major milestone in CARPHA’s journey to strengthen its referral laboratory capacity as well as advance our collective response to one of the greatest public health challenges of our time—antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health threat with projections estimating 10 million deaths annually by 2050, emphasising the urgent need for a coordinated and comprehensive response. In the Caribbean, the fight against AMR is further complicated by limited surveillance systems, delays in diagnostics, restricted access to quality antimicrobials, overuse and misuse of antibiotics in animal and human populations. In this regard, CARPHA launched an integrated AMR programme in April 2025, which included expanding CARPHA’s regional referral capacities for AMR surveillance and response.

Dr. the Honourable Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Wellness of Jamaica, officially inaugurated the AMR laboratory, alongside Dr Lisa Indar, Executive Director of CARPHA. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the British High Commission in Jamaica, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the UK Department of Health and Social Care, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and other regional and international partners, demonstrating the continued commitment to strengthening Caribbean health security through collaboration.