PAHO and Choosing Wisely Canada partner to reduce healthcare overuse in Latin America and the Caribbean – PAHO/WHO
Washington, DC, August 6, 2024 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC) announced a new partnership to address the problem of excessive or unnecessary testing and treatment in Latin America and the Caribbean. This collaboration aims to promote evidence-based health care practices, improve the quality of care, and enhance patient safety throughout the region.
PAHO Deputy Director Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas and Dr. Wendy Levinson, President of Choosing Wisely Canada, signed a memorandum of understanding formalizing the five-year partnership beginning in July 2024.
Overuse of health services is a global problem characterized by the frequent and excessive use of tests and treatments that do not benefit patient care. This results in wasted resources for both families and health systems and can cause harm to patients. For example, Canadian and international guidelines recommend that older people use benzodiazepines, or sleeping pills, for no more than 6 weeks due to the risks of car accidents, falls, and hip fractures. Despite this, a 2017 study Canadian Institute for Health Information Study They found that 1 in 10 Canadian seniors use these medications regularly.
In the Americas, problems of overuse are widespread and impact already overburdened health systems and families. By joining forces, PAHO and Choosing Wisely Canada seek to support health workers, strengthen health systems, and ultimately benefit families by promoting evidence-based practices across the region to address the overuse of harmful or ineffective clinical interventions.
“This partnership represents a significant advance in our efforts to strengthen health care systems in the Americas,” said PAHO Deputy Director Dr. Sealey-Thomas. “By collaborating with Choosing Wisely Canada, PAHO can leverage its expertise to optimize resource utilization in hospitals and health centers across the region and improve patient outcomes.”
“Strengthening our partnerships to address the global problem of overuse is a crucial step toward improving health systems and providing better care to patients,” said Dr. Wendy Levinson, President of Choosing Wisely Canada. “By building stronger networks, we can advance our collective efforts to improve the quality and safety of care and promote best practices in health care delivery.”
Key activities under the MOU include:
- Establish and support networks of experts and influencers committed to applying quality research evidence to reduce harmful and ineffective healthcare interventions.
- Engage healthcare leaders and providers to champion quality and safety in healthcare.
- Support research agendas to improve the quality and safety of healthcare.
- Advocating for safe and effective healthcare delivery practices.
- Creating a learning community to share knowledge and resources on healthcare overuse.
The MoU will be in effect until 31 August 2029 and will provide a framework for continued collaboration between the two organisations.
About PAHO
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) works with the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of their populations. Founded in 1902, it is the oldest international public health organization in the world. It acts as the WHO Regional Office for the Americas and is the specialized health agency of the inter-American system.
About Choosing Wisely Canada
Choosing Canada Wisely (CWC) is the national voice for reducing unnecessary testing and treatment in Canada. This physician-led initiative collaborates with national clinical societies to develop recommendations on frequently overused tests and treatments that can expose patients to potential harm, consume valuable health care resources, and contribute to the climate crisis. Choosing Wisely Canada is led by a team of physicians and staff based at Unity Health Toronto.
