Information Systems for Health—or IS4H—is a mechanism for managing interoperable systems with open data that comes from different sources and that is ethically used, through effective information and communication technology tools, to generate strategic information for the benefit of public health. Through the IS4H project, PAHO aims to implement a better decision and policy-making mechanism through health systems that ensure universal, free and timely access to data and strategic information using the most cost-effective ICT tools available.
— Testimonials —
"The IS4H initiative and the Action Plan represent an important milestone for the Public Health of the Americas as it is the result of a collaborative process with all Member States that began in November 2016 in a High Level meeting with the Caribbean countries, and that continued in 2017 and 2018 with similar meetings with the countries of Central and South America."
DR. JARBAS BARBOSA
Director, PAHO/WHO
"I'm encouraged by the level of collaboration that we noticed, the innovation that has been shared when we discussed Information Systems for Health. It is very important to proceed taking into consideration all of the existing actions, investments and knowledge. We must build on what already exists"
DR. CARISSA F. ETIENNE
Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, PAHO/WHO Director Emeritus
"Public health emergencies show the importance and relevance of Health Information Systems. At PAHO we are working full time to support member states in adopting information technologies that support the response to the pandemic."
DR. SEBASTIAN GARCIA SAISO
Director, Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health (EIH/PAHO)
"The OECS Heath Unit welcomes PAHO's Caribbean IS4H roadmap, which supports our need for accesible information for strategic health system governance, and is consistent with CCHIV priorities. We recognise the contribution the Caribbean has made to the region, and look forward to the 2019 Strategy and Action Plan on Information Systems for Health in the Americas."
DR. CARLENE RADIX, MD, MPH
Head of Health, Human & Social Cluster, SSDD
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission
"The University of Illinois is excited by this opportunity to partner with PAHO and to support countries in the Americas as they embrace digital technology in their efforts to improve the health of their citizens."
IAN BROOKS
Director of Health Sciences, National Center for Supercomputing Applications Faculty Affiliate, The Center for Health, Aging, and Disability Faculty Affiliate, Center for African Studies
"To ensure a successful IS4H implementation, It is important to utilize multi-sectoral collaboration approaches to ensure coverage with other sectors such as telecommunications, planning, education, statistics and eGovernment initiatives."
DR. IRAD POTTER
CMO, Government of the Virgin Islands
Chair of the Caribbean Technical Working Group
for Information Systems for Health
"The IS4H- Maturity Model (IS4H-MM) provides a great reference framework for guiding Information Systems for Health in Latin America. I support PAHO's efforts to promote strategic planning and collaboration in the region."
YURI QUINTANA, PhD
Co-Chief, Division of Clinical Informatics, BIDMC and Harvard Medical School
"The Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (BIREME / PAHO / WHO), within the framework of its mission to democratize information, knowledge and evidence, actively joins the IS4H project so that the scientific production of the Region is an integral part of the Information Systems for Health in the Americas."
DR DIEGO GONZÁLES
Director - Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (BIREME)
"The Caribbean made a significant contribution to all countries of the Americas on Information Systems for Health, and will support the adoption of a 2019 Strategy and plan of Action on IS4H for the Americas at PAHO's Directing Council. Since the High-level Meeting on IS4H in Jamaica, the region has introduced big changes."
DR. PATRICIA L. RUIZ, MD, MPH
Information Systems for Health (EIH/IS), PAHO
"IS4H will be a critical success factor to achieve goal 6 of the Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2018-2030: a call to action for health and well-being in the Region (ASSA2030)."
MARCELO D'AGOSTINO
Senior advisor, IS4H - Information Systems and Platforms Unit, Department of Evidence and Intelligence for Health, PAHO