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.
Located within CARPHA’s Medical Microbiology and Quality Control Services Division (MQCSD), the new laboratory significantly enhances CARPHA’s ability to detect, monitor and respond to antimicrobial resistance while expanding specialised microbiology and clinical diagnostic services for its 26 Member States.
Funded through the Fleming Fund and supported by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the UK Department of Health and Social Care under the Caribbean Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance (CARA), the laboratory reflects the strong partnership between regional and international organisations working together to address one of the world’s most pressing public health threats.
The Jamaica laboratory completes CARPHA’s strengthened regional network of referral laboratories across Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia and Jamaica, creating an integrated system that improves access to high-quality laboratory services throughout the Caribbean. By strategically distributing testing capacity across the region, the network reduces sample transportation times, shortens turnaround times for critical diagnostics, strengthens disease surveillance and enables faster public health action.
Through significant UK investment across CARPHA’s regional laboratory network, the Agency has modernised its laboratory infrastructure with advanced technologies including VITEK 2, VITEK MS Prime, BioFire multiplex PCR systems, GeneXpert molecular diagnostic platforms, laboratory refurbishment and workforce development. These enhancements support rapid pathogen identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and expanded diagnostic services for a wide range of infectious diseases.
