Building more robust and equitable health systems requires strengthening authorities
*By Marcelo Batista Nery
I recently participated in the first Information Session on the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Strategic Plan 2026-2031. The meeting aimed to present the development of the plan and submit a proposal for analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centers. Although the proposal is still in its preliminary phase, some priorities have already been outlined, with an emphasis on technology and innovation.
The Strategic Plan recognizes technology as an essential component for understanding public problems over time and improving healthcare. Digital transformation is seen as essential for closing the digital divide in Latin American countries and combating inequalities in health services. In addition, technological innovation is considered an important instrument for improving the conditions for protecting and disseminating information, raising the quality of the services offered.
There is a clear trend to focus efforts on building more robust and equitable health systems capable of meeting the diverse demands of the population. This process requires strengthening authorities, who must lead the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of policies, plans and programs, always with an inclusive approach. In addition, there is a clear intention to reorient the health sector towards comprehensive and comprehensive primary care, which implies the appropriate management of financial, human and technological resources.
Some paths are crucial for the evolution of health systems. One of them is the need to operationalize integrated service networks, aiming to improve organization and governance at individual and collective levels. This approach increases the problem-solving capacity of the first level of care, that is, health promotion, disease prevention and treatment of common low-complexity conditions, directly impacting the reach, equity and resilience of these systems.
The evaluation of telemedicine programs, health technologies, and services should be prioritized and carried out through innovative intersectoral care models, expanding the reach of already established initiatives and increasing efficiency. The improvement of these models, centered on the life cycle of people and their communities, is essential to ensure active coordination and ensure communication and continuity of care. Thus, digital transformation not only improves outcomes, but also enhances the surveillance and control of noncommunicable diseases.
In this context, it is crucial to promote innovation and regional development in the production of information technologies (IT), creating environments and ecosystems that guarantee a sustainable impact. To this end, it is necessary to promote adequate financing mechanisms, facilitating access to health services and gradually eliminating direct expenses, in accordance with national priorities and the context of each information system.
Advancing coordinated efforts is essential to ensure equitable access to strategic health technologies, such as diagnostics, vaccines and treatments. This involves strengthening regulatory systems at the national, regional and subregional levels that guarantee the quality, safety and effectiveness of services. Sustainable and transparent public procurement mechanisms, such as revolving funds, are essential to increase the availability of basic technologies and essential medicines.
PAHO considers the digital transformation of the health sector as key to improving the efficiency, accessibility and quality of services. This process involves the adoption of IT by workers in the sector, improving digital literacy and providing specific training. In addition, it is important to advance the integration of information systems, with special attention to medical intelligence and its practical applications.
Digital transformation must create a robust global evidence ecosystem, empowering governments, professionals, and civil society to make informed decisions in pursuit of a brighter future. PAHO thus reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the capacities of the scientific ecosystem, promoting greater integration between ethics and knowledge, always focusing on transparency, risk management, and social impact, preserving research integrity, and building trust in science.
There is an urgent need to strengthen data ecosystems to guide healthcare decision-making. This involves not only improving the availability of data, but also the ability to use it efficiently in healthcare. Fostering cross-sector partnerships is crucial to increasing connectivity and driving the development of solutions in artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and public digital goods, such as educational content and digital platforms accessible to society.
Prioritizing the use of AI-based systems, along with non-traditional surveillance approaches, aims to enable faster detection and efficient investigations, resulting in timely alerts about emergencies and disasters. With the expansion of the capabilities of these systems, early detection and agile responses to health emergencies are expected. This expansion should be aligned with policies that promote continuous assessment, addressing contemporary public health challenges, such as violence, epidemics, and the social, ecological and climatic conditions that favor the spread of vectors and diseases.
These core elements outline the guidelines for the Strategic Plan 2026-2031. It is worth noting that the plan is in its early stages and that the selection and interpretation of priorities expresses my personal perception. This perspective, although based on WHO documents, is shaped by the conviction that technology will play a vital role in the evolution of the health sector in the coming years.
*Marcelo Batista Nery is a researcher at the ABES Think Tank and the Oscar Sala Chair at the Institute of Advanced Studies at USP (IEA-USP), coordinator of Technology Transfer and Head of the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center (BRA-61) of the Center for Violence Studies at the University of São Paulo.
Notice: The opinion expressed in this article is the responsibility of its authors and not of ABES – Brazilian Association of Software Companies
Article originally published on the IT Forum website https://itforum.com.br/colunas/futuro-tecnologia-inovacao-saude-publica/
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