Health and wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has the attention of CARPHA and other officials at the launch of the new regional reference referral laboratory. Photo: CARPHA

Health and wellness Minister, Dr. Christopher Tifton said that the facility will strengthen surveillance, improve clinical decision-making and reduce the Caribbean’s dependence on overseas testing.

“The establishment of the lab will significantly strengthen our ability to identify resistant organisms more quickly, improve surveillance, guide appropriate treatment decisions, and provide valuable evidence supporting national policy and clinical practice.

“It also reduces dependence on overseas referral testing while improving access to high-quality laboratory services across the Caribbean,” he added.

Tufton said that the facility complements the work of Jamaica’s National Public Health Laboratory, hospital laboratories, infection prevention and control teams and clinicians and pharmacists, while supporting the country’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance.

He said Jamaica has been strengthening its surveillance systems, promoting responsible antibiotic prescribing, advancing antimicrobial stewardship and increasing public awareness about the appropriate use of antibiotics.

“We are not sitting down and doing nothing. What this does is add capacity, and it also allows us to do even more,” he added.

The AMR Regional Reference Referral Laboratory will serve as a regional hub for advanced testing, surveillance and technical support, enhancing the Caribbean’s ability to detect and respond to drug-resistant infections, while supporting evidence-based public health decision-making across CARPHA member states.