Main current health challenges in Latin America discussed

In order to analyze and discuss some of the main challenges currently facing their countries, as well as future prospects for collaboration, representatives from nine countries of the Americas gathered at the annual meeting of the Latin American Conference of the International Association of National Health Institutes (IANPHI), which took place from October 5 to 8 at the facilities of the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) in Cuernavaca.

In his message, Dr Juan Manuel Sotelo, Director of the Subregional Program for Central America and the Dominican Republic of the Pan American Health Organization (CAM), highlighted that PAHO’s participation, particularly in the CAM subregional programs and for South America ( SAM) guarantees that the sub-regional and country levels are integrated into an innovative cooperation with the Network of National Institutes of Health of Latin America and the Caribbean in favor of equity in health.

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Biomedical Innovations Awarded in Brazil

“Those who innovate to transform lives deserve an award” is the motto of the SBEB-Boston Scientific Award for Innovation in Biomedical Engineering, which encourages the development of works that collaborate with the Brazilian public health system. Brazil is the host of the IX Latin American Congress of Biomedical Engineering 2022, that is why the Brazilian Society of Biomedical Engineering (SBEB) and Boston Scientific created a new modality for this year’s award, to include relevant initiatives from other countries in the region, and projects with potential impact for Latin American health systems. Hence, the Latin American category was launched. A total of 192 projects were submitted for the award, and six of them were selected as winners by the Independent Evaluation Committee: three for Brazil and three for Latin America. The Award for Innovation in Biomedical Engineering is promoted annually, with SBEB and Boston Scientific as organizers, and an independent evaluation committee made of experts in public health, health innovations, medical Devices, who represent the main management bodies of SUS.

El Salvador advances in digitization of its public health system

The public health system of El Salvador advances in modernization and digitization of health services, DPL News reports (link in Spanish). Most medical notes are now made on mobile devices. The country’s Ministry of Health has provided tablets to health promoters, who facilitate timely decision making and and maintain epidemiological surveillance of most vulnerable or high risk population groups. – We deliver tablets to our health promoters in the western area (of the country), with intention to train employees through digitization of processes in registrations, consolidation and data analysis, indicates a report by the Ministry of Health. With the digitization of 90% of hospitals and 70% of health units, doctors can keep better control of patients, by quickly accessing clinical history. Also, the Government of El Salvador focuses on upgrades to public hospitals, replacing the old infrastructure.

Depression will be central to future mental disorders

The recently celebrated Mental Health Day was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and by the World Federation for Mental Health in 2013. Since then, every October 10, it seeks to give visibility to a problem that is becoming more and more common in the population and that increased as a result of the pandemic. “There are many pathologies, but we focus on Alzheimer’s, depression and anxiety disorders”, explained the Dr Miguel Fariz, Director of Mental Health and Addictions Department of the Health Ministry of Argentina to La Rioja/12   “Both in public and private order, anxiety disorders are the order of the day,” said the psychologist, affirming that the pandemic had a significant impact on the lives of people regardless of age, not only because of the conditions of isolation and losses of people but by the subsequent process of socialization. In this sense, he asserted that ” depression will be a central characteristic of the disorders of the future” and therefore society requires an understanding of mental illnesses so as not to stigmatize them. “ The great stigma is that the mental illness is insane”, said Fariz.

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Willum Þór: The question remains if our healthcare system is sustainable

On January 1st, Iceland took over the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. This intergovernmental organisation plays an important role in promoting innovations, health data integration, and cooperation between all major stakeholders in the Nordic healthcare. The Icelandic Health Minister elaborates on his vision to future health in the Nordic region, the Nordic strengths, Iceland’s plans for the Presidency with regards to health innovations, and the coming collaboration with Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies

CIFS ran an all-day session at the Week of Health and Innovation (WHINN) in Odense

Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies ran an all-day session at the annual Week of Health and Innovation (WHINN) in Odense, Denmark. CIFS’ program attracted over 40 experts from health and data organisations. We presented strategic foresight and futures studies in the health sector, concepts that are used to reimagine the future of the health sector, such as the Humanome and decentralised clinical trials. Also, we had a panel discussion on the newly started Phase V project on decentralised clinical trials, where CIFS is a contributing partner

New HIMSS book out on blockchain in healthcare

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