PAHO advances in improving indoor air quality in hospitals and health facilities in the Caribbean

The organization conducted assessments in eight Caribbean countries between 2023 and 2025, along with training, the development of indicators, and a guide with technical parameters and best practices.

Washington, D.C., 19 September 2025 ― The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is making progress in improving indoor air quality in hospitals and health facilities in Caribbean countries. Between 2023 and 2025, it conducted assessments in eight Caribbean countries, accompanied by practical training and the development of indicators to guide concrete improvements in this area. The assessments were conducted in a total of 14 hospitals and several polyclinics in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Saint Lucia.

The results of this technical assistance from PAHO show significant progress: newly built or modernized hospitals now comply with ventilation and fresh air supply parameters. Among them, the newest hospitals in this regard are the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital (Dominica), Marigot Hospital (Dominica), and Owen King Hospital (OKEU) in Saint Lucia. In addition, more than 50 environmental health and hospital engineering professionals strengthened their capacities in indoor air quality monitoring and control.

The region now has standardized tools, such as the Guide on Indoor Environmental Quality in Health Care Facilities, which enable countries to measure their progress and guide investment decisions. This guide provides technical parameters, examples of good practices, and design criteria that enable countries to evaluate and improve their ventilation, filtration, and humidity control systems in critical areas. It is available in English in the PAHO repository. The document is expected to be available later this year in Portuguese, Spanish, and French to expand its reach in the region.

"Clean, well-controlled air inside healthcare facilities not only prevents infections and medical complications, but also protects those who work and are treated there, helping to reduce risks and improve clinical and operational outcomes," explains Daniel Buss, chief of PAHO's Climate Change and Environmental Determinants of Health Unit. "Indoor air quality in Caribbean hospitals," he adds, "is receiving increasing attention as an essential determinant of patient safety, staff health, and the resilience of health systems."

"With this joint effort, the region is moving toward safer, more modern, and more sustainable hospitals, benefiting patients, health workers, and entire communities," Buss emphasizes.

Next steps

The road ahead is promising. The next steps include consolidating national air quality programs in health, incorporating international standards into hospital accreditation systems, and continuing to modernize ventilation, filtration, and humidity control systems in critical areas such as operating rooms, intensive care units, and pharmacies. These actions are also linked to climate change preparedness and disaster risk reduction, strengthening health resilience throughout the region.

PAHO reaffirms its commitment to supporting countries in this strategic agenda. Support includes technical assistance for the design of national policies, provision of monitoring equipment through joint purchases, continuing education through the Virtual Campus for Public Health, and access to international financing linking air quality with climate adaptation.