New Ehealth Initiatives in Latin America (PAHO)

paho.org reported new eHealth initiatives are springing up in countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, in parallel with the increasing use of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the region. These initiatives have the potential to improve access to and quality of health care, yet few countries have policies in place to guide their development or exploit their full potential.

These are among the findings presented in the current issue of the Pan American Journal of Public Health (PAJPH), the peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). Devoted entirely to eHealth, the special issue highlights the wide range of efforts currently under way in the region and presents emerging evidence about key factors that determine their success.

“Wisely used and widely applied, eHealth can be a strategic tool for improving access, expanding coverage, and increasing the financial efficiency of health care systems,” PAHO Director Carissa F. Etienne writes in an editorial introducing the special issue. “ICTs are already revolutionizing access to quality comprehensive care, bridging many difficulties and enabling primary care to resolve more health issues.” Read Article