On May 7, 2025, BIREME held an internal meeting to launch Brazilâs Unified Health System – SUS Digital Platform project. The meeting marked the official start of the development schedule and aimed to begin implementing the consensus activities during the co-creation process with the Ministry of Health’s Digital Health and Information Secretariat (SEIDIGI), and to share guidelines and align the next steps with the teams involved.
The project is part of Additive Term 1 to Cooperation Term 157 (TA1/TC157) between PAHO Brazil and SEIDIGI/Ministry of Health (MS from its Portuguese acronym), with BIREME participating in the development of the SUS Digital Platform.
SUS Digital Platform: an integrated response to the demands of digital health
Established by Ordinance GM/MS No. 3232 of March 1st, 2024, the SUS Digital Program aims to expand the population’s access to health services and actions through digital technological solutions. With a focus on innovation and equity, the Program’s mission is to connect citizens to the Unified Health System (SUS) at all stages of care, besides providing essential information for access to comprehensive care.
With all states, municipalities and the Federal District having already joined the initiative, the platform being developed by BIREME will act as a centralizing point for information, products, services and initiatives related to SUSâ digital transformation. Its aim is to facilitate access to information for citizens, health workers and managers, promoting efficiency and integration between the systemâs different users and instances.
The platform will bring together all the content produced by the program in a structured repository, facilitating its visibility and strategic use, pointed out Veronica Abdala, manager of Information Products and Services (PSI) at BIREME/PAHO/WHO. Among the planned features are an integrated search service, themed editorial sections, spaces dedicated to different audiences, and the integration of products such as the Brazilian Telehealth Network, Second Formative Opinion (SOF) and Decision Aids. Interactive content is also foreseen, such as experiences reports and testimonies gathered in the Voices of the Digital SUS section.
Project stages and collaborative approach
The proposal was to build the platform collaboratively by the SEIDIGI/MS and BIREME teams, and its development is characterized by four stages:
- Phase 1: development of prototypes and information architecture
- Phase 2: alpha version of the platform and team training
- Phase 3: beta version with usability tests and English version
- Phase 4: regular operation and platform sustainability strategies
During the launch meeting, VerĂŽnica Abdala (PSI manager) pointed out that the project is the result of an intense co-creation process with SEIDIGI, including the development of a previously approved low-fidelity prototype, which has already been incorporated as the initial development milestone. âThe expectation is that the new platform will function as a true digital hub for the SUS Digital Program, promoting a more connected, accessible and documented digital health ecosystem, with a focus on usability, navigability and open access to public health information,â she stated.
The content mapping, target audience and functionalities of the platform were defined during an ideation and co-creation workshop, held with members of SEIDIG/MS and BIREME, in SĂŁo Paulo, at BIREME premises, on January 16, 2025.
Further information:
SUS digital transformation: BIREME supports developments â BIREME/PAHO/WHO Bulletin