Connectathon and Regional Meeting on Digital Transformation of the Health Sector

Abstract

Following the eight guiding principles of the digital transformation of the health sector, PAHO is preparing to launch two public goods for the cooperation of the Region of the Americas in digital matters: a telehealth platform for noncommunicable diseases and an interoperable vaccine certificate. In order to advance both projects, an international meeting of a technical, political, and strategic nature was held in Santiago de Chile, between May 30 and June 2, 2022. This report reviews the workshops, conferences, and bilateral meetings held within the framework of the event, in which progress indicators, risks, and critical factors for the success of the projects were defined. One of the outstanding activities was the connectathon, carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of interconnecting the computer systems of the different countries. This initiative represents a technical milestone for the Region, since it is the first proof of concept for cross-border interoperability in health. As a conclusion of the meeting, some recommendations are formulated and a call to action is made in pursuit of the digital transformation of the health sector in the Americas.