Attachments
174th Session of the Executive Committee
CE174/15
Provisional Agenda Item 4.4
Introduction
1. Under the Plan of Action for Strengthening Information Systems for Health 2019–2023, the Region of the Americas has made significant progress toward enhancing information systems for health and digitizing health data. The COVID-19 pandemic, beginning midway through the plan, accelerated the adoption of digital solutions intended to promote critical data capture and timely data analysis by decision makers in the health sector. At the same time, the pandemic highlighted the need to rapidly advance the digital transformation of the health sector with an emphasis on real-time data dashboards, open and secure digital solutions, and tailored platforms. In the post-pandemic era, when integration of interoperable systems and platforms is crucial for effective data management, challenges remain with respect to ensuring data quality, reliability, security, and timeliness. In particular, there is a need to improve the interoperability of systems and platforms that provide information on social determinants of health, such as sociodemographic, climate, and built environment data, to support efforts to address health inequities and emerging health and climate challenges in the Region.
2. This new plan of action, covering the period 2024–2030, builds on the previous one in order to expand and strengthen information systems for health (IS4H) at national and subnational levels. It focuses on implementing strategies for effective data management and evidence-based decision-making, adopting cost-effective emerging digital health solutions, and improving standards, legislation, and human competencies for the digital transformation of the health sector. Digital health is a key component of the plan, covering information subsystems like immunizations, epidemiological surveillance, communicable and noncommunicable diseases, and other programmatic health areas. This plan is expected to significantly improve the effectiveness, comprehensiveness, and responsiveness of health systems, prioritizing the first level of care, which is crucial for efficient patient care and disease prevention.