UWI Cave Hill and FutureHEALTH to Host Landmark Digital Health Symposium
May 7, 2026
The Errol Walrond Building, Clinical Skills Complex of the Faculty of Medical Sciences
A Digital Health Symposium will be staged in Barbados next week that will place the spotlight on how technology can strengthen Caribbean health systems and improve patient care within the country and across the region.
The symposium is being hosted by the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, in partnership with FutureHEALTH, a health innovation initiative co‑funded by IDB Lab and FutureBARBADOS. The two‑day event will be held May 13-14 at the Clinical Skills Complex, Jemmotts Lane, St. Michael, with both in‑person and virtual participation.
Held under the theme “From Innovation to Impact: Advancing Digital Health in the Caribbean” the event builds on the momentum created by the launch of FutureHEALTH last year and aims to move regional conversations from vision to implementation.
Organisers say the focus will be on practical and scalable digital solutions that improve access to care, system efficiency, and health outcomes.
Overcoming digital barriers
Regional and international experts will explore key issues shaping digital healthcare, including barriers to transformation, health data governance, and the development of a recognised digital health profession.
International speakers with experience in large‑scale public health system reform, including digital programmes within the United Kingdom’s National Health Service, will share lessons relevant to the Caribbean.
Participants will also engage in applied sessions addressing real‑world regional challenges, alongside case studies drawn from Caribbean and international health systems. An evening networking mixer on the first day will bring together policymakers, innovators, industry leaders, and healthcare professionals.
Postgraduate Digital Health programmes
The symposium precedes a forthcoming suite of postgraduate programmes in Digital Health and Innovation by the Faculty of Medical Sciences. The interdisciplinary postgraduate programmes have been developed in response to growing regional demand for digital health expertise and are designed to prepare professionals to lead health system transformation.
Offered at Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma and MSc levels, the programmes combine healthcare, technology, policy and innovation, with study areas including artificial intelligence, telehealth, health data analytics, entrepreneurship and health systems redesign. Flexible delivery options – online, blended and face‑to‑face – are designed to accommodate working professionals, with full‑time and part‑time pathways available.
Developed through regional stakeholder engagement and informed by global best practice from institutions including the University of Oxford, King’s College London and Maastricht University, the offerings are grounded in Caribbean health system realities and aligned with the region’s growing emphasis on health innovation, workforce development and system transformation.
Organisers say the symposium will serve as a key launch platform for these programmes and will provide prospective students and regional partners an opportunity to learn more. Further details will be shared during the event and through the FMS website.
