WHO Collaborating Center for Knowledge Translation and Health Technology Assessment in Health Equity

Co-Directors:

Coordinator:

About us

The Institute of Population Health at the University of Ottawa was designated in April 1996 as the WHO Collaborating Center for Health Technology Assessment. In 2007, the Centre for Global Health at the University of Ottawa was designated as the WHO Collaborating Center for Knowledge Translation and Health Technology Assessment in Health Equity. The Centre was redesignated in October, 2015. The Centre promotes the concept of technology assessment, the establishment of technology assessment systems, methodological support, training seminars in member countries, and collaborating among institutions with similar intent. To date, the Centre has focused on the development of a "tool kit" for needs-based and equity-oriented policy decisions and decision-aids for patient information.

Mandate

Promote the importance of technology assessment in support of the health policy making process among the WHO member countries.

Assist WHO in the collection and distribution of information pertaining to the safety, efficacy, effectiveness, cost and other social and ethical implications of medical and health technology.

Collaborate with the member countries in the implementation of training seminars for policy makers as users of technology assessment information and to support education efforts in the field of technology assessment theory and practice. A special emphasis will be given to the training of teachers of the School of Public Health, Medical Schools and Health Administration Programs.

Assist member countries in the establishment of technology assessment systems, organizations and programs at the governmental level and at universities and Research Centers.

Collaborate on technology assessment programs and provide methodological support to researchers of member countries and participate in join and collaborative research projects.

Provide technical guidance in the development of libraries and documentation centers and support the efforts of country researches to publish their worked in recognized journals.

Promote collaboration among institutions of member countries in the various fields of technology assessment and especially with Canadian institutions.

Current Projects

Update of the Equity-Oriented Toolkit for Health Technology Assessment

Update in progress.

Equity Oriented Toolkit

Health Equity Impact Assessment

Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care HEIA Training

Implementation of Knowledge Translation Strategies

Sixteen podcasts for the Canadian Collaboration for Immigrant and Refugee Health (CCIRH) have been uploaded on the Cochrane website .

Collaborate with the Cochrane Collaboration

Publications of the Equity Methods Group available on the equity website.

Collaborate with the EVIPnet Collaboration

Providing Training

We have held certificate course on Global Health Governance and Health Systems Strengthening in Ottawa, Ontario in October 2013, October 2014, and October 2015.

In June, 2012 we hosted a National Summer Institute on Refugee Health at the Catholic Centre for Immigrants Refugee Shelter in Ottawa.

December, 2012, we presented a webinar on a new reporting guideline for systematic review with a focus on health equity. View the webinar here.

Capacity Building of Regional Centres/Hubs for excellence in knowledge

A 3-day workshop in Kingston, Jamaica on Health System Strengthening: Health Technology Assessment and Systematic Reviews was held on March 12-14, 2012.

Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Health Technology Assessment

Canadian Collaboration for Immigrant and Refugee Health- Knowledge Exchange Network

Canadian Collaboration for Immigrant and Refugee Health (CCIRH) e-Checklist for practitioners. Available online here.

Collaboration with key NGOs to strengthen health system in Kazakhstan

Marginalized women in India

Collaborate with the Campbell Collaboration International Development Group

Evidence for Equity (E4E)

E4E one pager available online

Links

Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care: Heath Equity Impact Assessment

International Organizations

Canadian Federal Government

Health Care System in Canada

Provincial Health Departments

Canadian Organizations