The Caricom Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) has launched the Region’s first Reporting Framework for Private Sector NCD Reduction Initiatives, marking a major step forward in coordinating and scaling business-led responses to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) across Caricom.
Unveiled during a virtual session on 24 March, the framework provides a structured system to document, measure, and amplify private sector contributions to reducing NCDs — one of the Caribbean’s most pressing public health challenges.
NCDs account for approximately 78% of all deaths in the Caribbean, placing sustained pressure on health systems, economic performance, and workforce productivity. Until now, there has been no unified mechanism to capture and assess the private sector’s role in addressing this crisis. The Reporting Framework changes that.
“For too long, the private sector has been viewed as a bystander in the NCD crisis,” said Dr Patrick Antoine, CEO and Technical Director of the CPSO. “We are making it clear that we are active partners in this fight. This framework is yet another down payment to ensure that this unfortunate perception ends today. The framework is a decisive step toward demonstrating our commitment and ensuring that our contributions are visible, measurable, and impactful.”
Across Caricom, businesses have already been investing in employee wellness programmes, product reformulation, expanded health benefits, mental health initiatives, and community-based education and outreach. However, much of this work has remained fragmented and underreported.
The Reporting Framework addresses this gap by enabling organisations — regardless of size or sector — to systematically track their initiatives, measure outcomes, and share best practices across Member States. It also creates opportunities to scale successful interventions at the regional level.
“What gets measured gets managed, and what gets reported gets recognised,” Dr Antoine added. “For the first time, companies across the region will have a standardised approach to documenting and strengthening their contributions to NCD reduction.”
CPSO Chairman Gervase Warner underscored the critical role of the private sector in advancing public health outcomes. “Businesses have a direct responsibility to the health and well-being of their employees and customers,” he said. “By taking the lead and demonstrating our efforts, we position ourselves as essential partners in tackling this challenge across the region.”
Chairman Warner noted that shifting consumer preferences toward healthier products and lifestyles present both a public health opportunity and a strategic business advantage, particularly as companies adapt to evolving regional and global markets.
The framework was developed under the leadership of Dr Alison Gajadhar-Foster, Technical Consultant, with guidance from the CPSO Private Sector Working Group on NCDs.
CPSO is encouraging widespread adoption of the Framework and has reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Caricom Secretariat, regional institutions, and civil society partners to strengthen health outcomes and build a more resilient Caribbean Civilisation.
More information on the Reporting Framework for Private Sector NCD Reduction Initiatives, including access to the Framework and guidance for participation, is available at https://thecpso.org.
CPSO
