Research must drive policy, care – Health Minister tells CARPHA delegates

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, has called for stronger links between research, policy and clinical practice across the Caribbean, stressing that scientific work must lead to tangible improvements in healthcare delivery.
Dr Anthony made the remarks during the closing awards ceremony of the 70th Caribbean Public Health Agency conference, hosted in Georgetown by the Caribbean Public Health Agency.
Addressing regional delegates and medical professionals, the minister said the three-day conference highlighted advances in healthcare, including Guyana’s progress in telemedicine and the use of artificial intelligence in medical imaging to support faster and more accurate diagnoses.
“Research for research’s sake is not going to help us improve,” Dr Anthony said. “We need to make sure that the research done here influences policy and informs clinical excellence so that we are truly changing lives in between conferences,” the minister is quoted as saying in a post on social media.
He urged policymakers to apply the findings from the conference to bridge the gap between academic study and real-world healthcare outcomes.
The minister also pointed to practical interventions that have delivered results, including the use of drone technology in healthcare delivery and the establishment of maternal waiting homes in rural areas, which have contributed to reduced mortality rates.
Reflecting on Guyana’s history in scientific research, Dr Anthony noted that the country published its first scientific journal, The Asylum Journal, in 1883.
He also joined in recognising award recipients, Elsie Lefranc and Moti Ramgopal, for their contributions to research on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and regional public health.
Dr Anthony further commended CARPHA and the Ministry of Health for introducing interactive panels and a wider range of speakers at the conference, describing the approach as setting a new standard for regional health forums.
He encouraged delegates to maintain partnerships formed during the event and continue working towards improving healthcare systems across the Caribbean.