ABES took a significant step towards driving digital transformation in healthcare in Brazil with the launch of its Business Vertical “HEALTH”. The inaugural meeting, held virtually, was attended by Ana Estela Haddad, Secretary of Information and Digital Health of the Ministry of Health, which addressed initiatives for building an innovative health ecosystem in the country, including the SUS Digital program.
The opening of the virtual event, which took place on June 25, was led by Andriei Gutierrez, president of ABES, which expressed the association's vision of creating an environment of opportunities, connecting its members with decision-makers and key partners, as well as fostering dialogue on innovations and strategic partnerships in the sector.
Ana Estela Haddad, a dentist and professor at USP with extensive experience in public policies, presented the Digital SUS, a federal initiative to optimize equity, access and quality of health services. She highlighted the distribution of financial resources, national adherence to the program and the three stages of the process: situational diagnosis, application of the digital maturity index and preparation of regional action plans. The secretary also addressed advances in the implementation of electronic medical records, system interoperability, patient access to health data and telehealth strategies.
The secretary also presented the Digital Health Maturity Index, an instrument composed of seven dimensions that guide action plans for digital transformation. She highlighted the analysis of the 120 plans delivered, seeking to identify common needs for coordinated actions and emphasized the SUS platforms, such as the Meu SUS Digital application and the National Health Data Network (RNDS), essential to improve interoperability and continuity of patient care.
One of the highlights of the presentation was the introduction of the laboratory Innovate SUS Digital, whose implementation plan includes holding a seminar in August to collect insights of the sector, followed by calls for innovation challenges. The initiative aims at collaboration between the public and private sectors, and ABES offered its support in this initiative, in areas such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
The meeting reinforced the importance of collaboration between all stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem, as well as the need to address challenges such as interoperability and digital literacy. To conclude the meeting, Andriei Gutierrez highlighted the urgency of a national project that transcends governments, promoting digital transformation in Brazilian healthcare.
