KINGSTON, Jamaica — Efforts to improve access to affordable brain health services across the Caribbean will take centre stage when the inaugural Caribbean Brain Health Summit gets underway on November 16, bringing together stakeholders from several countries to address gaps in care and support.

Organised by Amagi Health, the summit will feature activities in Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, the Cayman Islands and Suriname, alongside virtual discussions and contributions from members of the Caribbean diaspora.

The initiative aims to bring together families, healthcare professionals, researchers, community organisations, employers and public institutions to explore practical solutions for making brain health services more accessible and affordable throughout the region.

Discussions will focus on challenges surrounding access to assessments, ongoing care and support, as well as the resources needed to strengthen frontline services and improve coordination among organisations.

Dr Ishtar Govia, founder and chief executive officer of Amagi Health and convenor of the summit, said improving brain health requires more than individual responsibility, stressing the importance of stronger institutional support.

“This is not only a question of what individuals should do for their health. It is about what our services, workplaces and public institutions must be prepared to provide,” she said.

“We want this inaugural week to help connect local priorities with a sustained Caribbean-led programme of work—building the evidence, relationships and practical arrangements needed for better care to become accessible and affordable,” Govia added.

The summit will feature country-specific activities tailored to local needs, including youth discussions, community education, workforce development and conversations examining the relationship between brain health, inclusion, resilience and preparedness.

Regional online sessions will also explore data collection, healthcare systems, investment, research capacity and the challenges facing frontline workers.

An invitation-only leadership roundtable is scheduled to take place in Jamaica on November 16.

Organisers said participating country teams will be tasked with identifying barriers to care, highlighting existing strengths and proposing practical solutions that could benefit from greater regional cooperation.

A key component of the initiative is the Caribbean Call to Action on Brain Health, a proposed non-binding framework currently open for public consultation.

The framework seeks to strengthen prevention, access to care and family support while promoting workforce development, regionally relevant research, coordinated investment and accountability.

Civil society groups, professional associations, researchers, employers and public institutions are being encouraged to contribute to the framework and explore opportunities to align its objectives with existing national and regional initiatives.

Governments across the Caribbean are also being invited to review the emerging proposals through their respective approval processes and consider supporting further regional discussions.