The update of the Second Formative Opinion (SOF) program will include improvements in technology, scientific methods and scope of application. A new phase of development will seek to implement mechanisms to automate the production of new SOF, and a new content format will provide information on the quality of the evidence. New features also include testing the expansion of consultations to specialized health care lines.
The launch of an unprecedented Decision Aids project for health users took place in May, through technical cooperation between BIREME and SEIDIGI of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The initiative aims to strengthen health communication and the use of scientific evidence in decision-making by the lay population. The tool will be integrated into the “Meu SUS Digital” application and the first version should be available in 2025.
BIREME/PAHO/WHO, in cooperation with the São Paulo Municipal Health Secretariat (SMS-SP), continues to make progress in maintaining, updating and developing the SMS São Paulo VHL. Among the activities carried out in the first half of 2024 were the publication of a new Window of Knowledge, the recording of four new Experience Reports and a training workshop for SMS-SP’s technical areas. These efforts are part of Phase III of the Technical Cooperation project established between the institutions since 2010, which aims to consolidate and strengthen local information and knowledge management capacities.
BIREME is implementing agile methodologies for the development of its scientific and technical information projects in health. Aligned with the 2023-2025 Strategy that drives the digital transformation of its products and services, new project management practices are being adopted to increase flexibility, collaboration, and efficiency, focusing on continuous deliveries and frequent adjustments.
Promoted by BIREME’s Human Resources Administration, the event gathered employees to discuss essential topics for work and career management. The workshop “Human Capital Management and Institutional Tools for Performance and Innovation” was conducted by the psychologist Rogério Cortes, Catalisar Corporate Education.
BIREME was filled with colors, music, and tradition to celebrate its long-awaited “Festa Junina,” also affectionately called arraiá or arraial. It was on the 26th, in the last week of June 2024. This festivity, a cultural milestone in Brazil, is a special opportunity to strengthen the bonds among the whole personnel, to celebrate the rich traditions of Brazil, and share their importance with the colleagues in Latin America and the Caribbean countries. This activity cooperates with the institutional strengthening of BIREME, which seeks to provide the development of its personnel at individual and team levels in an organizational climate that prioritizes everyone’s well-being and creativity.
The annual update of the multilingual thesaurus of Health Sciences Descriptors coordinated by BIREME received 394 new descriptors in 2024. The online portal has also been renewed and now publishes the DeCS Panorama, a new section with information for users.
At a conference during the Annual Congress of the Association of Caribbean University, Research, and Institutional Libraries, ACURIL 2024, BIREME reaffirmed its commitment to health information management in Latin America and the Caribbean, betting on the use of cutting-edge technologies for the digital transformation of the current model of digital and virtual libraries. Learn more about the digital transformation of libraries and see details on BIREME’s participation.
The second meeting of the G20 Initiative on the Bioeconomy was held in Brasilia from May 7 to 9, 2024, dedicated to the themes of science, technology and innovation, the sustainable use of biodiversity and the role of the bioeconomy for sustainable development. Check out the World Health Organization’s participation in the meeting, which contributed with a health perspective for the bioeconomy, reaffirming the importance of traditional knowledge and traditional health practices for the promotion of health and well-being for all.
Held at the PAHO headquarters in Brasília, the event established a new work plan for technical cooperation aimed at enhancing the visibility of Brazil’s actions, policies, strategies, research, and projects concerning Indigenous Health.