UWI hailed as ‘engine of transformation’ in digital health push
May 19, 2026
Minister of Training and Tertiary Education Sandra Husbands addresses attendees during the Digital Health Symposium.
Minister of Training and Tertiary Education Sandra Husbands has praised The University of the West Indies (UWI) for taking a leading role in reshaping healthcare delivery in the Caribbean.
Addressing participants at the Digital Health Symposium held from May 13-14, Minister Husbands commended UWI’s forward‑looking approach, particularly its leadership in advancing digital health through collaboration and innovation.
“The University must be more than a repository of knowledge; it must be an engine of transformation, and that is what we’re witnessing here,” she said. “It must look outward, not inward. It must engage the real needs of the communities it serves, and it must commit itself to solving the problems that define our time. UWI is making that move.”
She said that such efforts are only possible through strong partnership and noted: “When government, academia, industry and civil society come together, we move from isolated efforts to integrated solutions. We build ecosystems, not just projects, and we create pathways for innovation that are sustained and not sporadic.”
The Minister made special mention of the partnership that underpinned the symposium as a model for the region. The initiative was jointly organised by the Faculty of Medical Sciences and FutureHEALTH, a health innovation initiative co‑funded by Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Lab and FutureBARBADOS.
“The partnership with FutureHEALTH exemplifies this approach, bringing together public institutions, private actors and international expertise to reimagine what healthcare in Barbados and the wider Caribbean can become. It is a model that we must continue to embrace and expand.”
She further commended The UWI for what she described as a “bold step” in responding to both current healthcare challenges and future opportunities.
Highlighting the importance of aligning education with real‑world needs, Minister Husbands said the University must ensure its teaching, research and partnerships are grounded in practical outcomes.
“The University must align its teaching, research and partnership around real‑world challenges, and when it does so, remarkable things will happen,” she said. “We’ll see health systems strengthened through the use of electronic health records and data analytics that improve patient outcomes. We’ll see telemedicine expanding access to specialist care across rural and underserved communities.”
Her remarks reinforced the central theme of the symposium, which focused on moving from innovation to measurable impact in healthcare systems across the Caribbean.
