The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Mental Health and Wellness and Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), convened a meeting to advance planning for Grenada’s Biennial Work Plan (BWP) 2026–2027.
The session brought together senior leadership from both ministries and technical advisors from PAHO to discuss national health priorities, current challenges, and the strategic direction for continued technical cooperation.
During the meeting, officials outlined areas of continued technical cooperation with a focus on strengthening primary care through an integrated inter-programmatic approach. The team proposed activities across key programme areas and explored strategic approaches to maintain essential public health interventions amid reductions in financing. The PAHO team acknowledged that the organisation’s overall budget has been significantly affected, prompting the use of more targeted methods and cost-containment measures for delivering technical support.
Despite these constraints, PAHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Grenada in advancing the country’s health agenda, emphasising that its technical capacity remains intact. Innovative strategies which have proven to be effective will continue to be employed, given the myriad of areas for which the ministry continues to seek PAHO’s technical cooperation. The ministries’ officials expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership and the support provided in strengthening national health programmes.
A major area of focus was the impact of rising freight and procurement costs on access to medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies obtained through PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds (RRF). Grenada recognises the support of the RRF but highlighted the financial burden created by high shipping costs, an issue particularly challenging for small states with limited purchasing volume.
PAHO technical advisors provided updates on regional efforts to address these concerns, including the establishment of a working group between PAHO and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Pharmaceutical Procurement Service (OECS PPES). The group discussed exploring alternative long-term solutions to lower shipping costs through bulk procurement. These discussions align with ongoing advocacy led by regional governments for more efficient and affordable supply-chain mechanisms.
As part of the next steps, PAHO and ministries will consolidate the proposed activities and associated cost estimates into a draft plan. This document will be shared with the ministries for review and endorsement, forming the basis of the final BWP 2026–2027. The plan will guide technical cooperation efforts across priority health areas for the next biennium and support the country’s alignment with its national strategies and budget cycles.
The Ministry of Health thanked PAHO for its continued support, noting the organisation’s vital role in strengthening health systems, especially the primary healthcare, enhancing service delivery, and advancing Grenada’s public health goals. PAHO reiterated its dedication to working alongside both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Mental Health, Wellness and Religious Affairs to ensure sustained progress.
PAHO
