Registration and Networking Roundtables
Grab a coffee, pick your table, and join these lightly moderated conversation and networking discussions
Welcome Keynote & Scene Setter
This keynote sets the stage for the day by taking stock of where island communities stand today, highlighting challenges and emerging opportunities. We’ll explore key themes shaping the future, from climate resilience to digital transformation, and spotlight inspiring trailblazers from across the globe who are redefining what’s possible for island territories.
KPMG Global Center of Excellence for Island Healthcare
Launching Centre and Island snapshots thought leadership.
Toward Resilient & Equitable Health Systems
Building resilient and equitable health systems across Caribbean islands requires addressing deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities with integrated, regionally coordinated strategies.
- What does a resilient and equitable health system look like in an island context?
- How should islands sequence reforms to build sustainable and inclusive health systems?
- In what ways can international partners such as PAHO and the World Bank provide support to long-term system transformation?
Financing the Future: Health System Investment Strategies for Island Nations
With fiscal space tightening and healthcare needs rising, how can island governments pursue innovative and sustainable financing strategies for health system modernization?
- How can blended finance solutions be structured to reduce reliance on donor funding?
- What insurance innovations are expanding healthcare access while improving financial sustainability?
Coffee break
Navigating the Path to Universal Health Coverage
Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in island settings requires bold leadership, sustainable financing, and inclusive service delivery models that leave no one behind. As countries grapple with economic constraints, demographic shifts, and persistent health disparities, this fireside chat explores promising strategies for financing UHC and ensuring equitable access to quality care for all.
- What are the most critical milestones on the path to UHC in the Caribbean, and how can countries sequence reforms to maintain momentum and public trust?
- How can governments ensure that equity is embedded in every stage of the UHC journey, from policy design to implementation and evaluation?
- What financing strategies can sustainably support UHC while expanding coverage and improving service quality?
Delivering Expanded and More Effective Digital Health & Telemedicine
Implementing improved and expanded digital health services and processes can be a game-changer for island health – what key focus and investment points will be most impactful?
- Assessing best strategies for scaling digital healthcare and telemedicine and tailoring offerings to population needs.
- EHR integration and the potential impact on preventive care
- Funding models & regional standards for digital health services
- How can health systems integrate effective cybersecurity to meet the rising risk associated with digitization?
Climate Resilience in Healthcare
As climate change intensifies, island health systems face rising threats from extreme weather, sea level rise, and disrupted service delivery. Building resilience in this context calls for reimagining health infrastructure, delivery models, and facility design to withstand and adapt to environmental shocks. This session will explore how smart, flexible, and sustainable health infrastructure can strengthen climate resilience and ensure continuity of care for vulnerable populations in times of crisis.
- What does climate resilience look like in the health space? Exploring strategies to build smarter and more climate-resilient facilities
- What is the role of modular/mobile health delivery services as a complement to primary facilities and to increase resilience and response in climate events?
- Designing health infrastructure for future extremes
Afternoon Keynote & Scene Setter
Launching Centre and Island snapshots thought leadership.
Networking Lunch
Prioritizing and Better-Resourcing Mental Health Care
Mental health is a foundational yet often overlooked pillar of public health. As island face compounding stressors, mental health care is both an urgent need and a long-term investment. This session will examine how governments and regional actors can elevate mental health in national health and development strategies, expand access through inclusive insurance and tele-health innovations, and design stigma-reducing campaigns.
- How can island nations expand access to mental health care by embedding it into national health and development plans, and through broader insurance coverage?
- What lessons are emerging from regional pilots and tele-mental health initiatives?
- Which policy frameworks and cross-sector approaches are proving most effective in mainstreaming mental health as a public health priority?
- What makes community and educational outreach campaigns successful in reducing stigma — and how can they be made more impactful across diverse populations?
Increasing Pharmaceutical Access & Build Robust Local Supply Chains
How can the region improve reliable access to essential medicines?
- How best can islands achieve cost savings on pharmaceuticals? What results are we seeing from collective purchasing strategies?
- How can policy makers stimulate local supply chains?
- How can regulatory harmonization of approvals support access for patients?
Workforce Development – Attracting, Training & Retaining Health Talent
Workforce shortages are a persistent thorn in the side for island healthcare. How can the region create a comprehensive solution to address this challenge?
- Where are the key current and projected workforce gaps?
- How can policy-makers best address these shortages?
- How are regional institutions support training partnerships and exchanges?
- How can we better align academic offerings locally with projected health workforce need?
- Addressing challenges of migration
Introduction to Spotlight Session Topics and Coffee Break
Spotlight Sessions
Broken into 45-minute sessions, delegates can select and participate in two breakout discussions. These sessions are intended to be interactive and guided by real experience as a basis for learning and lesson sharing. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions, draw parallels and discuss relevant strategies.