1. 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

2. 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

3. Funders
PAHO
Health Canada
HHRSD
ONP
FNIHB
IAD
NSDOH
IDRC
CCGHR

4. 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

5. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 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

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