Author: Lilian Callo

The Virtual Health Library (VHL) represents an information and knowledge management model for the Latin American and Caribbean Network on Health Sciences Information. Its evolution is constant, and conceptually and technologically always aligned and based on collaborative work and networking. A new VHL maturity assessment instrument is presented, to assess VHL Network instances in the adoption of methodologies, technologies, and good practices based on a self-assessment process.

For project management, BIREME/PAHO/WHO has perfected an efficient methodology and system of controls that allow for the monitoring of the development status of these projects, the use of allocated resources, the presentation of results reports, and effective communication between the Center’s teams and the counterparts involved to ensure the achievement of the results agreed upon between the parties.

BIREME was present at the 5th edition of LatinREV: Innovations and trends in academic editorial management: reports from Latin America, on July 1st. Organized by the Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales Sede Argentina (FLACSO), the meeting included experts from the Region in a program designed to present and discuss solutions using new information and communication technologies and trends in scientific publication.

The 1^st Interdisciplinary International Congress on Public Health Policies: in search of full citizenship through universal health (CINPSUS) had as its central objective the creation of a space for reflection, discussion, exchange, and construction of technical-scientific knowledge through the sharing of research, experiences, and proposals for the strengthening of social justice. The opening table was attended by the Director of BIREME, Diego González – who at the time also spoke on behalf of Socorro Gross, PAHO/WHO representative in Brazil.

The National Health Council (CNS) and PAHO/WHO Brazil, through BIREME, are working on a project within the framework of the eighth Term of Adjustment to the Cooperation Term 68 (TC68/TA8), which aims to increase visibility, access, and use of technical, scientific, and dissemination publications of the CNS in Brazil and other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Partial results of this project were presented at a recent meeting with members of the CNS Technical Chamber.

In May 2021, the new version of the LEGISALUD platform of the Argentine Republic was officially launched, a database that stores legislative information specialized in health in general, and Covid-19 in particular, at the initiative of the Ministry of Health of the Nation, with the institutional support of PAHO/WHO and with the technological support of BIREME/PAHO/WHO, based on the Virtual Health Library methodology.

BIREME was present at the VI International Congress of Medical Education promoted by the Asociación Peruana de Facultades de Medicina (ASPEFAM), from May 25th to 29th of this year. The event, developed in an innovative way to meet current challenges regarding the virtual format, had the participation of 1,500 attendees from different countries of the Americas and mainly from Peru with a program that included pre-congress courses, stands, international meetings, symposiums, and keynote addresses.

The 5^th International Congress on Primary Health Care (V CIAPS), organized by the Universidade Federal de Piauí and the Center for Studies, Research and Extension in Continuing Education for SUS (NUEPES), was inaugurated with the Conference “Maternal care in times of COVID-19” taught by Bremen de Mucio, specialist in Gynecology and Obstetrics and Health Services Management of the PAHO/WHO Latin American Center for Perinatology, Women’s and Reproductive Health (CLAP/WR), moderated by the director of BIREME, Diego González.

The selection and permanence criteria for LILACS journals in the Brazil collection were updated in order to align them with the LILACS criteria applied throughout Latin America and the Caribbean and with the editorial and scientific communication processes provided for in Open Science. The document was also restructured to make it easier to understand its application in the evaluation and selection process of journals, carried out annually.

In order to gather and structure its main scientific journals in a single virtual environment, the São Paulo State Health Secretariat created the Portal of Scientific Journals. The portal will offer differentiated services, such as the electronic management of journals through an online editorial flow, using the Open Journal System and increase the visibility of the journals of the institutes that integrate the Information and Knowledge VHL Network.