The Ministry of Health and Wellness, Jamaica, will be staging the 16th annual National Health Research Conference (NHRC) from February 4-6, 2026. The conference, which is traditionally held in November each year, was postponed due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa and its devastating impact on several parishes.

The theme for the sixteenth anniversary is Health for All in a Changing Environment. The event will focus on six (6) main thematic areas. These are: (i) Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), (ii) Demographic Changes-Ageing and Birth Rates, (iii) Men's Health, (iv) Sexual and Reproductive Health, (v) AI and Robotics in Healthcare and (vi) Workplace Wellness. However, high quality research covering other thematic areas will also be presented.

‘Health for All’ reflects the 1978 Alma Ata Declaration which was galvanized by Jamaica’s leadership in primary health care. The NHRC theme also reflects the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda which promotes a people centred approach with a view to leaving no-one behind. As Jamaica recovers from Hurricane Melissa, the theme, Health for All in a Changing Environment becomes even more relevant. The response will require an ‘all of government, all of society’ approach, as we focus on adaptability and resilience.

The 16th NHRC (2025) will feature twenty-two (22) oral and eighteen (18) poster presentations over three conference days. It will also host feature presentations, panel discussions and a training workshop. The conference will offer continuing medical education (CME) credits for all health and allied health professionals.