From data to decision-making: Information systems for health workforce planning

Title: From data to decision-making: Information systems for health workforce planning
Date: 12 November 2026
Time: 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (ETS)
Languages: Simultaneous interpretation in English, Portuguese, and Spanish

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Introduction

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Policy on the Health Workforce 2030: Strengthening Human Resources for Health to Achieve Resilient Health Systems promotes national policies and plans agreed upon through intersectoral collaboration that strengthen governance, planning, human resources for health information systems (HRHIS), and the use of evidence and innovation (1). In line with this policy, the Conceptual Guide for the Development of Human Resources for Health Information Systems links governance, data quality, and decision-making, emphasizing data source management and the transformation of data into strategic evidence (2). 

For this evidence to inform public policy decisions, opportunities for dialogue and collaboration among relevant stakeholders are essential. PAHO's stakeholder mapping and strategic dialogue methodology proposes identifying these stakeholders and building agreements for the governance and consolidation of HRHIS, strengthening their capacity to generate quality information for policymaking, planning, and management (3).

This webinar aims to demonstrate how HRHIS data, through effective governance, analysis, and intersectoral dialogue, can be transformed into evidence that informs public policy decisions and health workforce planning, drawing on practical tools and country experiences.

General Objective

Promote the strategic use of HRHIS to inform public policy decisions and health workforce planning by integrating data governance, analysis, and intersectoral dialogue.

Specific Objectives

• Present PAHO technical cooperation tools that support HRHIS governance, evidence generation, and stakeholder dialogue.
• Share Panama's experience using the RHS-IA agent to support the analysis of health workforce needs and gaps.
• Examine how evidence can guide priorities and intersectoral agreements for health workforce planning, education and training, retention, and investment.
• Foster dialogue to exchange experiences and identify the stakeholders, agreements, and conditions needed to translate HRHIS evidence into public policy decisions and health workforce planning.

Agenda

Moderator: Isabel Duré, International Consultant on HRHIS, Health Workforce Unit, PAHO

Opening remarks

• TBD

PAHO Health Workforce Unit: Technical cooperation priorities and tools to support countries in the Region. Use of AI   

• E. Benjamín Puertas. Chief, Health Workforce Unit, PAHO
• Natalia Rodríguez. International Consultant on HRHIS, Health Workforce Unit, PAHO

From Evidence to Action: Decisions to Strengthen the Health Workforce   

• Tomás Zapata. Director, WHO Academy

From Data to the Development of a Human Resources for Health Observatory and Decision-Making   

• María Gabriela Hoffmann. Division of People Management and Development, Ministry of Health, Chile

Data and Artificial Intelligence for Health Team Planning Using PAHO's RHS-IA: Pilot Experience in Panama  

• Rosalba De Castro. Director of Human Resources, Ministry of Health, Panama

Dialogue: Which Stakeholders Should Be Involved, and What Agreements Are Needed to Use Evidence in National Decision-Making?

• E. Benjamín Puertas. Chief, Health Workforce Unit, PAHO
• Participants: Speakers
   

Closing Remarks: Summary and Recommendations to Strengthen the Link Between Information, Intersectoral Dialogue, and Decision-Making 

• E. Benjamín Puertas. Chief, Health Workforce Unit, PAHO

References

1. Pan American Health Organization. Policy on the Health Workforce 2030: Strengthening Human Resources for Health to Achieve Resilient Health Systems. Document CD60/6 [Internet]. Washington, D.C.: PAHO; 2023.
2. Pan American Health Organization. Conceptual Guide for the Development of Human Resources for Health Information Systems [Internet]. Washington, D.C.: PAHO; 2025.
3. Pan American Health Organization. Stakeholder Mapping and Strategic Dialogue for the Governance of Human Resources for Health Information Systems [Internet].