Washington D.C. 25 July 2023 – At an celebration to rejoice five decades of collaboration in information methods and electronic well being amongst the Pan American Wellbeing Group (PAHO) and the Inter-American Improvement Lender (IBD), the PAHO Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, underscored the important position of digital transformation in pandemic restoration and improving upon access to health and fitness.
During the function – Connecting Well being for all – which took position on 24 July in Washington D.C., Dr. Barbosa also highlighted the urgent want to make certain that nations around the world have the details and information important to monitor development in direction of universal well being, detect gaps and assure that absolutely everyone in the Americas can exercise their ideal to health and fitness.
“The alliance among PAHO and the IDB is very important since it focuses on difficulties highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. Barbosa explained.
“During the early stages of the pandemic, there were being international locations of the Americas that were unable to see how numerous COVID-19 instances they experienced every single day, mainly because their data devices had been way too weak.”
Even now, “it is unacceptable that some nations around the world in our Area do not even know their maternal mortality fee,” he included.
To tackle these problems, the PAHO/IDB partnership has formulated over 40 strategic steps to ensure the digital transformation of the health sector and a few regional guidelines: a Prepare of Motion for the Strengthening of Information and facts Methods for Health a regional Roadmap for the Digital Transformation of the Well being Sector and a coverage on the application of data science in general public health and fitness using artificial intelligence and other rising technologies.
“Most importantly, the partnership has led to more folks getting digital health and fitness providers,” Dr. Barbosa mentioned.
Digital transformation, which features investing in expert services this kind of as health and fitness info systems, telemedicine, and electronic prescriptions, as effectively as other electronic improvements in medication these as artificial intelligence, is vital to guaranteeing a renewed vision of principal health and fitness treatment, Dr. Barbosa highlighted. “Technology is entirely distinct nowadays than 45 decades in the past at Alma-Ata.”
“The inhabitants of the Americas wishes superior community companies and health is a person of them,” IDB President, Ilan Goldfajn claimed. “The agenda we are building with each other has factors of what we consider are priorities,” like regional integration, data, performance, digitalization and addressing inequality.
Thanks to the PAHO/IDB partnership, a lot more than 15 countries of the Americas now have enhanced digital wellness foundations, and 10 international locations have digital wellbeing agendas with infrastructure prepared for details sharing across borders.
Participant Prices
Dr. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Wellness and Wellness of Jamaica
“For Jamaica, the electronic transformation task has led to shorter wait around periods, decreased expense in giving overall health companies and increased performance. The digitalization of health in the Americas has never been much more critical as it is urgent.”
Dr. Jose Ruales, Minister of General public Overall health of Ecuador
“For our region, information and facts devices are a amount a single priority. We are investing heavily to make improvements to our well being technique as a result of digital transformation.”
Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Wellness of Guyana
“Investing in connected well being, provides an prospect to obtain common wellness protection and to supply overall health for all. We urge companions to prioritize digitization of wellness as a enhancement platform.”
Dr. Ana Estela Haddad, Information and Electronic Well being Secretary of Brazil
“Digital transformation of the well being sector for Brazil is a nationwide precedence. We are certain that it is a crucial factor to make certain accomplishment as we strengthen the country’s 1st degree of care.”