The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep vulnerabilities in global health supply chains. For CARICOM, it highlighted a critical opportunity to fortify regional cooperation in the production and distribution of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals. As demand for health products skyrockets, CARICOM nations are poised to become both contributors and beneficiaries of regional trade in this essential sector.

Production Surpluses:

  • Barbados: Home to several pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities and biotech labs.

  • Trinidad & Tobago: Known for chemical manufacturing capabilities including medical-grade plastics and reagents.

  • Jamaica: Emerging supplier of herbal medicinal products.

Demand Hotspots:

  • Haiti: A high-need country for basic health supplies and vaccines.

  • Belize: Needs cold-chain logistics for pharmaceuticals.

  • St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Demand for surgical kits and diagnostic tools.

Trade Strategy:Boost intra-regional trade by creating a centralized CARICOM Health Procurement Portal. Encourage PPPs (public-private partnerships) in research, and incentivize local production with tax reliefs.