The manitoba centre for health policy: a case study

The Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) is a university research centre with a long-standing contractual arrangement with government.

The purpose of this project was to examine the facilitators and challenges in the development, establishment and continuation of MCHP.

In-depth, semi-structured interviews with 28 participants selected purposefully and a document review were conducted and analyzed using qualitative methods.

Although a unique confluence of factors facilitated MCHP's establishment, participants viewed safeguards to credibility (arm's-length from government; guaranteed academic freedom) along with powerful advocates as key to longevity. Other factors that participants discussed as important to sustainability included excellence in scholarship; thorough protection of privacy; stable funding; incremental growth; teamwork; leadership; nurturing of relationships; and authentic partnerships.

MCHP has demonstrated that using local administrative data to address policy-related research questions is of enduring value to local and provincial communities, and also has national and international relevance.