When the Belgian Audit of Maternal Mortality (BAMM) convened its national review this autumn, it did so with an ambition that reached well beyond Belgium’s borders. Among its invited external reviewers was Rohan D’Souza, representing the Canadian Obstetric Survey System (CanOSS) – a sign of the growing international exchange among countries working to understand and prevent severe complications in pregnancy.

The review brought together clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to examine maternal mortality and morbidity through detailed national case analyses. For D’Souza, the experience revealed how much common ground exists between health systems that might, on paper, seem entirely different.

“It became clear that the challenges we face in Canada are not unique,” he reflected. “From data infrastructure and sustainability to the barriers that prevent timely reporting and learning, the patterns are strikingly similar. What differs is how each country chooses to respond – and that’s where the real opportunity for shared learning lies.”

As part of BAMM’s review process, an inter-disciplinary team of reviewers discussed a series of complex cases, which prompted broader conversations about how data collection, case management, and system-wide learning could be strengthened. The process offered valuable insight into how national reviews like Belgium’s are structured, resourced, and embedded within their health systems. “Participating in BAMM’s national review underscored how collaboration across borders can accelerate progress,” D’Souza noted. “For CanOSS, seeing how others maintain and sustain their surveillance systems will directly inform how we build our own structures for longevity and impact.”

As CanOSS continues to expand its network and refine its approach, international engagement of this kind ensures that Canada’s maternal health research ecosystem both contributes to – and benefits from – a truly global dialogue on safety, quality, and learning in maternity care.