The Collaborative Imperative: Responding Strategically to the Interprofessional Challenge

Abstract

This paper is based on my presentation to the JAIPE Annual Conference in Sapporo in August 2010 when I argued that the combined impact of demographic, economic, educational, professional and social pressures demanded a strategic response to promote closer collaboration in health and social care through interprofessional education (IPE), exemplified by developments in six countries and reviewed globally in two reports from the World Health Organization (WHO 1988 & 2010). Progress was being made in establishing channels for exchange and support between countries although much remained to be done.