Ministry of Public Health, INTEC, and PAHO sign agreement for the positioning of the Virtual Health Library in the DR
SANTO DOMINGO.- The Ministry of Public Health (MSP), the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), signed a technical cooperation agreement in which they committed to “articulate conceptual, institutional, technological and material resources for the creation, implementation, evaluation and sustainable operation of the Virtual Health Library (BVS-DOM)”, PAHO technical cooperation operational platform for health information and knowledge management in the Latin American and Caribbean Region.
This project joins the Emilio Rodriguez Demorizi Library INTEC and the Latin American and Caribbean Center for Health Sciences Information, known as the Regional Library of Medicine, a specialized PAHO center aimed at technical cooperation and scientific health information.
The agreement signed by Daniel Rivera, minister of the MSP, Julio Sánchez Maríñez, rector of INTEC, and Alba María Ropero Álvarez, representative of PAHO/WHO, establishes among its objectives “incorporating the use of technologies and methodologies for the processing, dissemination and dissemination of national scientific-technical production in health", as well as "offering equitable access to said information to strengthen research and training of human resources in health in the country", using the virtual library as a database.
Likewise, they will seek to build a virtual space in which producers, intermediaries and users of scientific-technical health information come together, in a dynamic network of information sources, “created and operated in a cooperative and decentralized manner, with quality controls.” explicit, consistent with national demands, respectful of the ethics and principles, policies and values of its members and users,” as established in the written agreement.
The BVS-DOM will link the installed capacity in terms of information and knowledge to the solution of development problems in the health sector through national bodies such as the Executive Secretariat, Consultative Committee, Technical Committee and contributing Members, composed of institutions at the national level. national; as well as international bodies such as the Latin American and Caribbean Center for Health Sciences Information, also known by its original name Regional Library of Medicine (BIREME).
In this context, the head of Health, Doctor Daniel Rivera, expressed that this initiative is a “valuable resource”, since it will allow all those interested to access certified quality information in the field of health, which will remain registered, organized and stored by collaborating institutions.
“Without a doubt, by consolidating and expanding this platform, we are creating an invaluable resource that will allow our health professionals to always stay updated regarding research and the latest advances in scientific knowledge. This alliance that we have established today ensures accessible, truthful and timely information, in a virtual space designed for these purposes,” added Dr. Rivera.
In that same order, the rector of NTEC, Julio Sánchez Maríñez, indicated that this contribution they make will be reverted to society. “Having information and documentation in the area of public health is vital for any country. From our Faculty of Medicine, our deanery and our Library, you can count on our contribution in every possible way in research, documentation, information services and of course in training services," he expressed.
Meanwhile, Dr. Alba María Ropero Álvarez explained that “The VHL has 36,931,724 document references at the regional level and meets the objective of providing access to information and scientific evidence in health to users from all health sectors, contributing to reducing the gap between knowledge and practice in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The agreement signing ceremony was attended by several personalities from the health area of the collaborating institutions, as well as INTEC directors, including the dean of the Health Sciences Area, Miguel Robiou.
El Ministry of Public Health It is the governing body of the National Health System, responsible for guaranteeing the right to health of the country's inhabitants and their equitable access to integrated and comprehensive health services.
La Pan American Health Organization, established in 1902, is the specialized health agency of the inter-American system, headed by the Organization of American States, and also affiliated with the World Health Organization, since 1949, so it is also part of the United Nations system . Provides technical cooperation and mobilizes partnerships to improve health and quality of life in the countries of the Americas.
Since its founding in 1972, INTEC incorporated the Emilio Rodríguez Demorizi Library as an essential component of the academic infrastructure at the service of its values, purposes, objectives and areas of action. “INTEC has made an effort for several years to promote research, and this involves acquiring databases where we have more than a million sources of information, among which are scientific journals, in addition to keeping our professors updated. , students, and society in general,” explained Elsi Jimenez, director of the Library at the 2023 International Book Fair.
The signing of the agreement adds to the actions of INTEC for the valorization of the Health Sciences Area. In 2015, the INTEC Medicine program received international accreditation from the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), becoming the first in the country to obtain the endorsement of an organization with recognition from the World Federation. for Medical Education (WFME).