MCTIC will use ICTs to leverage economic development

 

The Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications (MCTIC) will establish a digital agenda for Brazil and use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to promote economic and social development, assured the Secretary of Information Technology Policy, Maximiliano Martinhão, during the Telebrasil 2016 Panel, which brought together government and companies.
 
In the debate "The centrality of telecommunications for the development of Brazil", he stated that the merger between the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Ministry of Communications resulted in the integration of the government's telecommunications and IT policies. "We have never been better able to work on a digital agenda for Brazil, with a single ministry taking care of IT and telecommunications."
 
According to the secretary, the development of the digital agenda will help the country to improve the competitiveness and productivity of different sectors of the economy. "The economy as a whole – industry, agriculture and services – is digitalizing. And ICTs are fundamental in this process", said Martinhão, revealing that Sepin will create a committee to discuss and prepare the digital agenda, which will be released for consultation public in the first half of next year.
 
Business model
 
The secretary highlighted that the IT sector in Brazil has several challenges, such as improving the business environment, and defended the adoption of public-private partnerships to guarantee investments in the ICT sector. "We need to find a business model so that there is a public-private partnership that encourages companies to invest." Another obstacle highlighted was the difficulty in creating new companies in the country, such as startups.
 
Martinhão also commented on Brazil's position in the periodic survey carried out by the World Economic Forum on the evolution of ICTs in 139 countries. In 2016, Brazil ranked 14th among the countries where fixed broadband is cheapest. On the other hand, he recalled that the country is not doing well in aspects such as the business environment, in which it ranks number 124, and the use of ICTs by the government, in 84th position.
 
During the debate, consultant Cláudia Vegas gave a presentation on the recent evolution of the Brazilian economy and highlighted some of the public policies considered priorities. According to her, the development of ICTs is essential for the resumption of the country's economic growth.
 
As an example of measures to be taken, Cláudia Vegas cited the use of electronic government as a way to reduce expenses and increase the efficiency of the public sector. The consultant also pointed out that the high tax burden and the regulatory environment are obstacles to the development of the telecom sector that need to be reviewed.
 
Health management
 
During the event, MCTIC also announced that it will invest in digital health research programs to improve services provided to the population. The director of Digital Ecosystems, Otávio Caixeta recalled the agreement signed at Palácio do Planalto that provides for the computerization and integration of health data to improve management.
 
"The agreement has already resulted in actions for the preparation of a study aimed at the development of technologies with an emphasis on the organization of information. We will have electronic patient records enabling the management of active citizens in the public health system", he explained, adding that the notice for study funding is expected to be launched in early 2017.
 
According to the director of the Department of Primary Care of the Ministry of Health, Allan Alves, there is an effort to increase integration with other federal government databases. "The objective is to digitize the national health card so that all registered citizen data appears in both the information system of public and private hospitals", he said.
 
He added that the federal government's health information system is the most modern, but recognized that it is necessary to improve connectivity in remote areas of the country.