Recently, regulatory entities in the Caribbean have moved to implement the PAHO recommended procedure reliance for Emergency Use Authorization in the COVID-19 pandemic (https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/52027)

The National Regulatory Authority of Guyana (Government Analyst, Food and Drug Department) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency/ Caribbean Regulatory System, have both taken decisions to adopt the procedure for drugs, vaccines, and test kits.

These are important developments for many reasons. Medicines and other health technologies are available (test kits) now, or will potentially become available in the coming months, and it will be important that countries have the tools in place to properly make decisions on authorization in an expeditious manner, while based on a trusted regulator’s best scientific and regulatory judgment.

Additional information: https://carpha.org/What-We-Do/CRS/Operational-Policy and https://www.paho.org/en/news/30-4-2020-new-guideline-use-reliance-emergency-use-authorization-medicines-and-other.