Caribbean Cooperation in Health Phase IV (CCH IV)  - Summary of the Regional Health Framework 2016 - 2025

Regional Public Goods for Sustainable Health Development

The Caribbean Cooperation in Health (CCH) advances the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) objective of enhanced functional cooperation found in Article 6 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, with the aim to achieve more efficient operation of common services and activities; to promote greater understanding among its peoples and the advancement of their social, cultural and technological development; and to intensify joint activities in areas such as health, education, transportation, and telecommunications.

Functional cooperation in health has been a long-standing successful feature of cooperation in the Region.  The CCH IV provides a framework for CARICOM Member States to efficiently and effectively address common health and development challenges through functional cooperation and joint action. The intention is to build the capacity of Member States to improve the conditions for health for all by developing and maintaining cost- effective and efficient health systems.  

Over the years, the focus of the CCH has evolved in line with the changing international and regional context and to meet the needs of CARICOM Member States. Each iteration of the CCH framework has delivered significant health gains. In 1984, CCH I sought to optimize resources by promoting technical cooperation among countries and securing funding for priority health areas. During this period, the Region achieved the historic elimination of indigenous measles in 1991 and in 2002, the elimination of rubella.  

CCH II, covering the period 1999-2005, saw massive scaling up of the regional response to HIV. through PANCAP, an acknowledged global best practice. CCH III, 2006-2015, advanced regional cooperation for health, including through the landmark Port of Spain Declaration on NCDs in 2007 and the establishment of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and on-going work of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV (PANCAP). Other significant outcomes include regional cooperation around the implementation and evaluation of the 2007 Port- of-Spain Declaration; enhanced surveillance, laboratory and risk communication; and near elimination of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV and Syphilis.  
 
Developed through a lengthy and widespread consultative process, the CCH IV seeks to advance regional cooperation in health through the provision of regional public goods (RPGS) that enable, complement and add value to the efforts of Member

States towards sustainable health development.