PAHO strengthens capacity for health workforce planning, through the Pandemic Fund project for the Eastern Caribbean

Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 1 September 2025 (PAHO) - To strengthen the capacity of countries to build a skilled, competent, and equitably distributed health workforce, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), through the Pandemic Fund Project for Eastern Caribbean Countries (ECC), hosted a five-day workshop focused on Human Resources for Health (HRH) planning for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (P-PPR).

The workshop brought together participants from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, aiming to enhance technical expertise and strategic planning for resilient health systems across the Eastern Caribbean.

The objectives of the workshop were:

1. Improve knowledge and understanding of HRH concepts, desired workforce attributes for resilient health systems, and global approaches to estimating staffing needs using a One Health approach.
2. Build capacity to use and apply the Workload Indicators of Staffing Need (WISN) software through real Caribbean service-delivery scenarios incorporating core P-PPR functions such as surveillance, laboratory services, veterinary care, critical care and referral, and community health.
3. Strengthen knowledge of Human Resources for Health Information Systems (HRHIS) and their integration with the One Health approach.
4. Develop capacity to establish or enhance HRHIS in alignment with regional and global standards and tools.
5. Support countries in developing implementation plans to estimate workforce needs using WISN and to establish national HRHIS.

Approximately 33 participants attended the hybrid workshop, including senior administrative and planning officers from Ministries of Health responsible for HRH management, senior laboratory personnel, and epidemiologists. The Chief Medical Officer of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines attended in person, while veterinary health officers from the participating countries joined virtually for several sessions.

Representatives from PAHO's regional HRH Unit presented ongoing efforts in the ECC to strengthen HRH and introduced participants to approaches for developing and reinforcing HRH information systems. Participants also engaged in a series of tailored, hands-on exercises using the WISN software, supporting decision-making around workforce distribution, efficiency, and competency mix, extending well beyond the estimation of workforce numbers.

Countries began developing initial implementation plans during the workshop, outlining how they will apply WISN and HRHIS tools within their national contexts.

Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, both actively advancing health system transformation and workforce planning initiatives, were recognized as being well positioned to integrate their ongoing work with the new tools introduced. Meanwhile, laboratory and disease surveillance personnel collaborated to define workload components aligned with efforts to standardize laboratory and surveillance practices, with a focus on pandemic preparedness and response.

"Pandemic preparedness requires not only strong systems but strong collaboration," said Dr. Amalia Del Riego, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries. "By working together to build workforce planning capacity, countries of the Eastern Caribbean are taking proactive steps to ensure that the region is better prepared to face future health emergencies."

The workshop concluded with country teams and expert laboratory and surveillance groups presenting their draft WISN and HRHIS implementation plans.