To strengthen the institutional relations on scientific and technical health information initiatives and projects, the Center Director João Paulo Souza recently held meetings with national counterparts at the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education in Brazil, both of which are long-standing institutional supporters of BIREME as PAHO’s Specialized Center for the Region.
Access to information on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is essential for guiding policy and clinical practice. It also supports community interventions that reduce premature mortality and increase health equity. PAHO and BIREME offer the course Better Care for NCDs on the CVSP and the information products BIGG-REC, e-BlueInfo, and Evid@Easy, which strengthen evidence-based decision-making.
Strategic activities were carried out in Ilha do Marajó to learn about the initiatives of the SUS Digital Program and telehealth activities in quilombola and riverside communities, including the Permanent Forum of Marajó Citizenship and the Digital Health Seminar in Pará, in Brazil. BIREME participated at the invitation of the Secretariat of Digital Health Information of Brazil’s Ministry of Health. A documentary was recorded.
Global Index Medicus (GIM), a WHO platform operates for the access to scientific information and evidence in low- and middle-income countries. In the first half of 2025, the GIM registered approximately 17,000 active users and continues to be available on BIREME’s IT infrastructure with high availability and international information security standards.
With the slogan “Changing the narrative on suicide” World Suicide Prevention Day 2025 aims to change perceptions and encourage concrete actions to save lives. In the Region of the Americas, PAHO’s new Regional Initiative seeks to expand policies, interventions, and access to mental health care, while BIREME provides informational resources to support managers, professionals, and communities.
To the use of AI for its health information products and services, BIREME/PAHO/WHO has a set of guidelines. It aims to ensure that the development of digital solutions is aligned with ethical principles, transparency, and accountability, in line with institutional recommendations, especially considering the infrastructure environment and the provision of programs for the constant development of associated skills.
At the biannual meeting of Cooperation Agreement 95, BIREME/PAHO/WHO and CCGDI/Ministry of Health of Brazil highlighted strategic advances in technological innovation, strengthening of the Brazil VHL Network, and development of the COVID-19 Pandemic Memorial Portal. The results reinforce the role of technical cooperation in modernizing health information systems and expanding access to scientific output in the country.
BIREME and SESAI/MS are making progress in the development of the Indigenous Peoples Virtual Health Library, a strategic initiative to gather, organize, and disseminate reliable information on the health of Brazil’s indigenous peoples. Scheduled to be launched in October 2025, the VHL will integrate scientific and technical content, a Window of Knowledge, and a timeline with historical milestones of SasiSUS, contributing to the strengthening of information management, health equity, and the appreciation of the cultural diversity of indigenous peoples throughout the national territory.
The TCIM Americas VHL was highlighted by the WHO as an example of the use of artificial intelligence for management, preservation, and expansion of access to technical and scientific knowledge on traditional health practices. The initiative was cited in a technical publication that maps emerging applications of AI in traditional medicine around the world. In the same field of innovation, BIREME coordinates the WHO Traditional Medicines Global Library, which in 2025 started to incorporate resources such as conversational assistants and thematic Super Abstracts of bibliographic records.
The first half of 2025 marked a period of progress for three strategic initiatives under TC157 technical cooperation agreement, led by BIREME in partnership with the Secretariat of Information and Digital Health (SEIDIGI/MS): Brazil’s Unified Health System – SUS Digital Platform, Decision Support, and Second Opinion Training. These initiatives combine technological innovation, participatory methodologies, and service integration that contribute to SUS’ digital transformation.