Health, Finance, and Information Systems professionals gather for regional conference on the technology’s benefits and costs
Attendees at the 16th Caribbean Conference on National Health Financing Initiatives in Nassau.
Digitalisation of the health sector promises major benefits for patient care, innovation and efficiency in operations. But who is accounting for the cost and financing implications of these initiatives?
These issues and the quest for Caribbean-based solutions were addressed by health financing experts, information systems professionals, health managers, and other professionals at the 16th Caribbean Conference on National Health Financing Initiatives. The conference, themed “Information Systems, AI and Data Analytics in Health: Managing Costs, Optimising Benefits for the Caribbean”, was held at the Margaritaville Beach Resort in Nassau, The Bahamas in October 2025.
The conference was co-hosted by The UWI’s Centre for Health Economics (HEU), and the National Health Insurance Authority of The Bahamas, with support from regional and international partners. Around 90 participants from 19 Caribbean and other countries attended, representing ministries of health, national health insurance agencies, hospitals, universities, insurers, and health technology organisations. This broad participation encouraged open discussion across policy, operational, legal, technological and financial perspectives.
The conference was formally opened by Dr Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness of The Bahamas. Over the three days, it featured presentations and discussions on how artificial intelligence and digitalisation are being used in health systems, the costs and benefits of health information systems, and how advancing technology can improve quality and efficiency.
Country and institutional presentations shared real- world experiences from national health insurance agencies, health financing bodies, and hospitals across the Caribbean and Latin America. Many countries reported improvements in administrative efficiency, claims processing, financial oversight, and access to data as a result of digitalisation. At the same time, presenters acknowledged ongoing challenges, including system integration problems, limited technical capacity, training needs, cybersecurity risks, and concerns about long-term sustainability.
Sessions focused on cross-cutting issues that affect the success of digital health reforms. Particular attention was given to the legal and regulatory issues surrounding artificial intelligence in healthcare decision-making, such as encouraging innovation amidst notable gaps in existing laws related to liability, informed consent, data protection, and accountability.
Presenters and participants highlighted that investment in information technology, digitalisation, and artificial intelligence is essential for modern health systems, but must be carefully planned, regularly evaluated, and managed to ensure value for money, particularly in small, resource-constrained countries.
A special panel of experts discussed whether the Caribbean was on track to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030. Participants noted that while many countries have progressed in expanding access to essential health services, significant challenges remained, including high out-of-pocket health costs for some households, unmet health needs, inequalities in access to care, long waiting times, shortages of health professionals, and infrastructure gaps. The panel explored ways to address these issues, such as improving efficiency through digitalisation, using performance-based financing, introducing earmarked health taxes, strengthening public-private partnerships, and exploring new financing approaches.
The 17th conference is planned for Bermuda in 2026 with the theme, “Resilient Health Financing Systems in the Caribbean: Confronting Change, Transition and Transformation”.
