WASHINGTON, CMC – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says it has signed a technical cooperation agreement with the International Hospital Federation (IHF) to strengthen hospital management capacity in the region, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean.
PAHO said the collaboration will focus on three core aims:
- Supporting the development of hospital management competencies
- Strengthening hospital management, systems, and processes
- Advancing the transformation to net zero climate resilient and sustainable healthcare
“PAHO operates on the basis that strong, trusted, and long-term collaboration is key to tackling health challenges in the Americas,” said PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa on Thursday. “Together with the IHF, we look forward to equipping regional executives to deliver hospital leadership for tomorrow – services that are innovative, integrated, patient-centered, and anchored in sustainability.”
The Geneva-based IHF and PAHO will guide the restructuring and upgrading of hospitals and the delivery of specialized care to ensure adequate accessibility for hospital-based services, including emergency, operative, critical, and outpatient care.
Furthermore, PAHO said the collaboration seeks to expand digital health services within hospitals and associated networks, promoting innovative approaches to enhance healthcare delivery.
“PAHO and IHF will promote the development of programs for healthcare delivery that strengthen climate resiliency in hospitals and leadership decisions,” the statement said.
IHF President Dr. Muna A. Tahlak said the health sector is “undergoing a 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,” she said.
PAHO said it would work with the IHF on leadership capacity development and providing training for senior managers and executives within hospitals, particularly in topics such as hospital organization, management, operation and oversight, and promoting a quality culture in healthcare delivery.
PAHO said IHF is a non-profit global organization that provides its members with a platform for knowledge exchange and networking with different actors in the health sector to improve the standard, quality, and level of service delivery.
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