Conclusion
WAHO’s regional approach is an exemplary model for other countries and regions, but there are other examples of regional approaches to learn from as well. The East, Central, and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) supports countries in its region and inspired many of them to implement iHRIS. In November 2011, ECSA-HC sponsored the 54th Conference of ECSA Health Ministers, which resulted in resolutions to form regional HRIS expert groups and support national health workforce observatories. Likewise, the Asia Pacific Action Alliance on Human Resources for Health (AAAH) works to promote and support better health workforce information systems in its region.
As regional organizations find effective approaches to support their member countries’ efforts, the opportunities to collaborate and share these approaches rise to the global level, such as the World Health Organization’s Health Workforce Information Reference Group (HIRG) and global forums. There are unquestionable gains in sustainability and South-to-South sharing with regional approaches. Implementing programs can greatly leverage and sustain their successes by involving and informing appropriate regional organizations.