CD61: BIREME presents products and services at a booth at PAHO headquarters

São Paulo, October 2, 2024 (BIREME/PAHO/WHO) - From September 30 to October 4, 2024, at the 61st PAHO Directing Council, BIREME is presenting its products and services at an interactive booth, promoting digital transformation in health information management. Director João Paulo Souza and manager Verônica Abdala highlight strategic partnerships, new initiatives and innovative solutions, while provoking reflections on the capacity of health systems in the Americas to promote scientific knowledge in different health contexts. 

BIREME, the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information, is hosting a booth during the 61st PAHO Directing Council (CD61), from September 30 to October 4, 2024, in Washington, D.C., United States, at the Organization's headquarters. The session, which brings together health ministers and other sector leaders from across the Americas, is ideal for BIREME to highlight its innovations in digital health and its strategic projects developed in technical cooperation with the countries of the region.

BIREME's booth is located at the entrance of PAHO Headquarters and presents an immersive experience for participants, with the use of two large format LED screens. “On these screens, we are projecting provocative questions aimed at stimulating reflection on the capacity for disseminating information in countries' health systems,” said BIREME director João Paulo, who is taking part in the event. “These are questions that can support our technical and political dialog with country representatives, demonstrating how technical cooperation with BIREME is capable of improving access to health information, both for the health system and services, as well as for professionals and citizens.”

Seven questions to assess your health system's information dissemination capacity:

1. How effective is your health system at providing rapid access to accurate health information for professionals and citizens?
2. Are national health guidelines and protocols easily accessible to frontline professionals and decision-makers?
3. Does your health system use data and research to identify and address gaps in the dissemination of health information?
4. Is your country's scientific and technical knowledge more evenly distributed, from rural areas to urban centers?
5. Is your health system prepared to respond quickly to the most frequently asked questions by health professionals?
6. How does your health system identify priority areas for investment in research and innovation?
7. How does your health system provide citizens and professionals with the knowledge they need to make informed health decisions?

BIREME will present a hotsite designed to complement the visitor's experience at the booth. The hotsite presents visually appealing content aimed at authorities and participants from PAHO Member States, providing access to essential information about BIREME's Strategy 2023-2025, as well as the products, services, and projects that have been accelerated by advanced digital technologies and an agile management approach. 

"At the booth of BIREME during CD61, users can also pick up bookmarks printed with QR codes that will direct visitors to the new hotsite, allowing them to explore the work carried out by BIREME in more detail, even after the event," said Verônica, who is also attending the event in person.

The hotsite highlights the main axes of the BIREME Strategy 2023-2025, which focuses on the transition to information products and services 4.0, aligned with the digital frontiers, such as artificial intelligence applied to health and the use of big data. This strategy drives BIREME's mission to provide reliable scientific and technical information essential for health decision making at both national and regional levels.

The page also highlights the institutionality of BIREME and its technical cooperation with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), highlighting the ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of health systems to disseminate information and the regional participation of these countries in the Governance of the Center. "This collaboration is essential to increase the impact of public health interventions and ensure that scientific information and knowledge reach health professionals and users in the countries," said Silvia de Valentin, BIREME's Manager of Administration, Programs and Projects. 

Among the main information products and services already available on the hotsite are:

• Virtual Health Library (VHL), one of the largest and most visited health information platforms in the Region;

• LILACS, the leading bibliographic database in Latin America and the Caribbean, with more than 1 million scientific records;

• DeCS/MeSH, a fundamental tool for indexing documents and promoting interoperability among health databases;

• Second Formative Opinion (SOF), which helps health professionals resolve clinical questions based on the latest scientific evidence.

During the 61st Directing Council, BIREME reaffirmed its position as a vital link between national health systems and access to scientific information. "Our mission is clear: to strengthen health systems in the Americas through the dissemination of high-quality, actionable information. Partnerships with ministries of health and other institutions are essential to ensure that this mission is fulfilled," said João Paulo Souza, Director of BIREME.

During the event, BIREME is also promoting a series of live demonstrations of its digital tools, encouraging the use of platforms such as the Virtual Health Library (VHL) for evidence-based decision making. "At the booth, visitors can explore the services offered by BIREME and learn more about how these solutions can directly impact health information management in their countries," emphasizes Verônica Abdala.

For Director João Paulo Souza, BIREME's presence at the 61st PAHO Directing Council reaffirms its commitment to innovation, collaboration and strengthening health systems through the dissemination of reliable information. Digital transformation and new technological frontiers are now a reality that BIREME is embracing to create a more informed and healthier future for all.

Please click here to visit the BIREME digital booth hotsite.