Permanent Secretary, Mr. Colin Okeiffe, is representing Antigua and Barbuda at the Pan-American Highway for Digital Health (PH4H) meeting currently taking place in San Salvador, El Salvador, from October 27 to 30, 2025.
The high-level regional meeting, convened under the theme “Driving Innovation and Connection in the Americas,” brings together representatives from all PAHO Member States to advance the digital transformation of health systems across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The PH4H initiative seeks to establish a connected and interoperable digital health ecosystem that promotes Interoperability, Continuity of Care, Patient-Centered Approaches, Information Verification and Regional Resilience.
Across the Americas, countries have taken various approaches to integrating technology into healthcare. However, misalignment among national systems has hindered information sharing and weakened the region’s ability to respond swiftly to health threats. The PH4H initiative aims to bridge these gaps by transitioning Member States from isolated information systems to a fully digitized, interconnected health sector.
Facilitated by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the workshop focuses on developing legal, ethical, and governance frameworks to ensure privacy, confidentiality, and secure data exchange across borders. PAHO will support Member States with the implementation of these systems following national readiness assessments.
Among the key benefits expected from this initiative are:
• Shared capacity building and regional collaboration
• Strengthened cybersecurity and cyber-resilience in healthcare
• Improved patient engagement, access, and confidence
• Data-driven decision-making and cost efficiencies
• Greater stakeholder participation and public trust in healthcare systems
• Digitized allied registries and regional integration of health data
Permanent Secretary Colin Okeiffe emphasized the significance of this initiative in improving patient care across the Americas.
“One of the most powerful outcomes of this digital transformation is that every person’s health will travel with them,” he stated. “Within the PAHO region, regardless of culture, age, or background, there will be no barriers to accessing an individual’s health information — with their permission — in the interest of their care. Your health travels with you, without barriers or borders.”
The Ministry of Health reaffirms its commitment to supporting regional collaboration that strengthens healthcare systems, promotes technological innovation, and ensures that no PAHO Member State is left behind in the digital transformation of public health.