Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) adopted a Political Declaration at the end of their 11th Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on 27-29 March 2026. The Declaration marks a significant step forward in advancing South-to-South cooperation and action across development priorities, including the full realization of the right to health.

The Declaration establishes a substantive health framework, with commitments to equity, universal health coverage, and pandemic preparedness, including pathogen access and equitable benefit-sharing. Historically focused on trade and economic cooperation, OACPS is now positioning health, including the right to health, as a core political priority, an evolution actively shaped through its partnership with the Centre for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI). CeHDI has worked with the OACPS Secretariat to strengthen its health portfolio and to develop a shared vision to advance the right to health and global health equity.

Ambassador Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations in Geneva and the coordinator of OACPS on the right to health, emphasized the significance of this shift: “This Declaration reflects a welcome strengthening of commitment by OACPS Member States to health equity. The next step is making sure these commitments are translated into tangible outcomes and shared vision.”

“We are pleased that our partnership has helped in achieving this outcome, and to have the commitment to the right to health and south-to-south cooperation at the highest political level,” said Dr Haileyesus Getahun, CEO of CeHDI. “We look forward to continuing our work with OACPS to strengthen the voice of the Global South in health diplomacy and decision-making.”

Ministers of Health from OACPS will meet during the 79th World Health Assembly in May 2026 to further discuss this commitment and lay the foundation for South-to-South cooperation to advance global health equity and shared priorities.

Link for the full declaration here

Landmark OACPS Heads of State and Government Declaration Elevates the Right to Health and recognizes the partnership with CeHDI.