Clear NCD spending targets
Government is planning a US$1.2 billion debt-for-social swap in December 2026, with savings from the transaction to be directed towards tackling Barbados' NCD crisis. The initiative is described as the largest debt swap in the country's history, is expected to generate savings of about US$150 million for investment in public health programmes. It has never been done before. Called "debt-for-resilence swap mechanism", it includes four development agencies working together: the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Latin-American Development Bank and the Caribbean Bank.
Health-promoting fiscal policies
Barbados has progressively strengthened its fiscal policy on sugar-sweetened beverages. In 2015, it introduced a 10% excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, at the time one of only a small number of countries to have adopted such a measure. In 2022, Barbados doubled the tax to 20%, bringing it in line with WHO recommendations and strengthening the government’s commitment to using fiscal policy to reduce NCD risk.
Lower NCD medicine and device costs
Not yet assessed
Prioritisation of data and surveillance
Not yet assessed