The International Hospital Federation (IHF) and the Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office of the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) have entered into a technical cooperation agreement on hospital management transformation.

By entering “technical cooperation” with PAHO/WHO, the IHF will contribute to PAHO’s mission to promote equity in health, to combat disease, and to improve the lives of the people in the Americas. Through cooperation, joint activities, and materials, PAHO/WHO is able to extend the reach of its action and impact. The IHF represents the global voice of hospitals and draws on the expertise of its international network of hospital and health system leaders. The agreement with PAHO/WHO comes in addition to the IHF’s long-held “official relations” status with the WHO.

Dr Muna A. Tahlak, President of the IHF

The joint-working initiatives with PAHO/WHO will focus on three core aims: supporting the development of hospital management competencies in the Americas; shaping the future of hospital management, systems, and processes; and leading the transformation to net zero, climate resilient and sustainable healthcare.

Sharing his remarks on the strength of global cooperation, Dr Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Jr, Director of PAHO/WHO, stated: “PAHO/WHO operates on the basis that strong, trusted, and long-term collaborations are the key to tackling the health challenges in the Americas. Together with the IHF, we look forward to equipping executives in the region to deliver hospital leadership for tomorrow – services that are innovative, integrated, patient-centred, and anchored in sustainability.”

The IHF’s programme and events facilitate knowledge exchange and leadership development to improve health service delivery worldwide. Member States in the region will have the opportunity to engage with sector leaders from across the globe at the annual IHF World Hospital Congress, taking place from 10 to 12 September 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

By building closer ties, healthcare executives in the Americas region will benefit from access to peer-exchange forums, for example, the IHF’s Young Executive Leaders programme and Association Leaders Circle. There will also be opportunities to increase capacity in the management of digital services, such as telehealth and big data. Joint working to strengthen education and training will be underpinned by the IHF’s Global Healthcare Leadership Competency Model. Strategies to ensure sustainability and climate resiliency are integral to the delivery of hospital services in the region will be supported by the programmes, tools, and resources delivered by the IHF’s Geneva Sustainability Centre.

Welcoming the formalization of relations with PAHO/WHO, Dr Muna A. Tahlak, President of the IHF commented: “Hospitals play a key role in our communities, no matter where in the world we operate.
And the health sector is undergoing a period of significant change to adapt to future service needs. Collaborating with peers as an international community enables us to address the global challenges and opportunities we face, working together for improved health outcomes for patients, the healthcare workforce, and the environment. We are so pleased to build on the strong foundations the IHF has with many actors in the Americas, to expand engagement and impact, and to make progress in delivering the complementary missions of the IHF and PAHO/WHO.”