One of the most pressing Canadian health care issues today is ensuring good human resource planning. In 2002, CPRN released Health Human Resource Planning in Canada: Physician and Nursing Work Force Issues, a Summary Report prepared for the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada [the Romanow Commission]. This report cites a number of barriers to implementation of reform, including the historic separation of health human resource planning from other health system issues.

In 2005, health human resource planning remains a priority. Much of the planning and forecasting, however, is occupationally-specific and does not examine the nexus between human resources needs and other policy initiatives [e.g. primary care renewal]. The Health Network is developing research linking health human resource planning and health care reform goals in a concrete manner. This will inform provincial planning priorities and budgeting for health care as well as planning in health-care related sectors such as post-secondary education.