Canada-PAHO Partnerships: a Collaborating Centre Perspective Gail Tomblin Murphy, RN, PhD Professor School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Professions Director WHO/PAHO Collaborating Centre Health Workforce Planning and Research Dalhousie University October 24, 2009

Partners Dalhousie University – Faculty of Health Professions, School of Nursing, LPI WHO PAHO (Washington, Jamaica, and Brazil) Health Canada – IAD, HHRSD, ONP, FNIHB Brazilian and Jamaican Ministries of Health NSHRF Nova Scotia Department of Health Other Canadian Universities – UWO, MUN, McMaster, UVic ZAMFOHR Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research

Funders PAHO Health Canada HHRSD ONP FNIHB IAD NSDOH IDRC CCGHR

Work of the Centre Main functions: Focus areas: Serve as a resource for development and sharing of research knowledge on needs-based health workforce planning Build capacity in these fields both locally and globally Focus areas: Needs-based HRH planning Capacity building/knowledge transfer Evaluation Needs Based planning Act as a resource in the development and sharing of information on planning for health systems and the health workforce based on the needs of people Build global capacity for needs-based planning by developing and fostering partnerships with researchers and research users CB and KT Work with PAHO and the WHO, HRH Observatories and Collaborating Centres in other countries to enhance health workforce planning, capacity building, knowledge transfer and evaluation Partner with universities and governments in the development of HRH modules to build capacity for needs-based planning and HRH management Evaluation Provide expertise in the evaluation of health care delivery and education initiatives Build global capacity in evaluation methods their application

Case study of a Successful partnership International Consortium for HHR Planning HHR Planning and Utilization: Capacity Building and Knowledge Exchange between Canada and Brazil Improving Health Systems through Increasing Capacity in Needs-Based Health Workforce Planning: Developing a Centre of Excellence in Jamaica

International Consortium on Needs-Based Health Human Resources Planning Goal: Develop the capacity of regional health authorities and governments in Canada, Jamaica and Brazil to plan HRH for health care based on the needs of their populations and the productive capacity of their workforce. Partners: Brazil Ministry of Health; PAHO-Brazil; Jamaica Ministry of Health; Health Canada; PAHO-WDC; NS DoH; NSHRF Funder: Health Canada, Health Human Resource Strategies Division Timeline: June 2009 – March 2010

HHR Planning and Utilization: Capacity Building and Knowledge Exchange between Canada and Brazil Objective: To enhance the PHC systems in both countries through needs-based planning Partners: Brazil Ministry of Health; PAHO-Brazil; PAHO-WDC; Health Canada; NS DoH, NSHRF Funder: Health Canada, Health Human Resources Strategies Division Timeline: October 2008 – March 2013 interprofessional education for collaborative patient-centered practice; providing evidence, based on population health needs, for health teams; planning for a workforce to care for vulnerable populations; approaches to increase indigenous health care providers; recruitment and retention program for rural/remote practice

Partners: Jamaica Ministry of Health; PAHO-Jamaica Improving Health Systems through Increasing Capacity in Needs-Based Health Workforce Planning: Developing a Centre of Excellence in Jamaica Objective: To initiate the development of a Centre of Excellence on HRH in Jamaica that can build the capacity for needs-based workforce planning across the Caribbean. Partners: Jamaica Ministry of Health; PAHO-Jamaica Funder: PAHO and International Affairs Directorate, Strategic Policy Branch, Health Canada – Canada Biennial Work Plan (BWP) www.whocentre.dal.ca

Challenges to Partnerships Funding mechanisms and sustainable resources Communication Shared leadership and changing roles Funders, government (different levels), PAHO/WHO, researchers and users Work plans and timelines while dealing with external challenges within and between countries Recognition of Intellectual Property Engaging stakeholders at many levels

Strategies Steering Committee at local level with meaningful engagement of stakeholders and with national programs; Political Commitment and technical capacity Ongoing Communication Subcommittees Face-to-face Use of technology Gchat and other IM services Videoconferencing Webconferencing Expert counsel

Gail.Tomblin.Murphy@dal.ca www.whocentre.dal.ca