The focus of BIREME 2018-2019 Biennial Work Plan

BIREME’s Biennial Work Plan (BWP) is guided by Programs and Budgets aligned to PAHO Strategic Plan, which, in turn, is linked to the WHO General Work Program, the 2030 Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas, Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030), and the Health Agenda for the Americas. Moreover, the BWP considers the priorities of the Cooperation Strategies of the Countries of the Region and the recommendations of the Center’s Advisory Committee and Scientific Committee. BIREME’s 2018-19 BWP was approved by the Organization’s Executive Management and Director, and will guide the development of the Center’s projects, products and services during this biennium.

Bireme sets presence in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2017

The presence of BIREME in the AL&C Region in 2017 was strengthened through technical cooperation actions with the PAHO/WHO Country Offices, as well as attendance at national and regional events, virtual meetings and technical meetings at PAHO/WHO Country Offices. These actions underline the repositioning of BIREME as a PAHO/WHO specialized center in scientific and technical information as a priority of the current leadership and with a view to strengthening its contribution to the information and knowledge management systems of the AL & C countries and through cooperation with other countries in the world.

Continuing education on access to information and scientific communication in health

On the framework of BIREME’s technical cooperation information products and services applied to management, access and use of information and evidence in health are developed, as well as to capacity building in Latin American and Caribbean countries. Throughout 2017 the Center led and took part in numerous capacity building activities for researchers, graduate students, managers and health professionals, both as face-to-face and distance learning. The capacity building activities focused mainly on access and use of health information, as well as scientific communication.

Advancing on the democratization of access to health information and evidence in LA&C

The Information Services offered by BIREME in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) aim to promote the democratization of equitable access to scientific and technical health information and to meet the information needs of health professionals in Latin America and the Caribbean through the efficient use of VHL information sources, development and updating of research resources, training activities and operation of other services. It is important to know the performance indicators of the access to information service, obtained from the access records to the Regional Portal of the VHL and the research service, to constantly improve information products and services according to the users’ needs and preferences.

Members of PAHO/WHO Executive Management visited BIREME in 2017

In the year in which it celebrated its 50th Anniversary, BIREME, as a PAHO/WHO Specialized Center, coordinated and held events that mobilized the celebrations together with supporters and institutional partners, former directors, collaborators and users from all the countries of the Region of America Latin America and the Caribbean. These events, as well as other internal meetings, were attended by the members of PAHO/WHO Executive Management at BIREME throughout the year.

BIREME Governance Committees met in 2017

The year 2017 was very busy for the Governance Committees, since they both held their meetings and effectively contributed for strengthening BIREME as a PAHO/WHO Specialized Center. The 6th Session of the Advisory Committee took place on February 2017, and was attended by PAHO/WHO representatives from Brazil and five country members: Argentina, Jamaica, Panama, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago. The 3rd Session of the Scientific Committee was held in December and had representatives from six countries: Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Brazil. Both meetings were attended by PAHO/WHO Assistant Director, Francisco Becerra.

BIREME’s main achievements in 2017

In 2017, BIREME celebrated its 50th Anniversary as a PAHO/WHO Specialized Center, with the mission of democratizing health information, knowledge and scientific evidence. One of this year’s most important achievements is related to its institutional strengthening and its effective work with Latin American and Caribbean countries, marked by its presence in the Region and the development of technical cooperation projects, products and services.

BIREME holds the Third Session of its Scientific Committee

The 3rd Session of the Scientific Committee of BIREME took place on December 7-8, with the presence of the PAHO/WHO Assistant Director and experts from six countries, besides a consultant with experience in health services management. The recommendations that emerged from the discussions and a final report are being drafted and will be submitted to PAHO/WHO Director. The main role of the Scientific Committee is to make recommendations on the Center’s programmatic functions, in compliance with international state-of-the-art scientific information and communication.

BIREME identifies ways to increase the use of evidence in health decision-making processes

The workshop “Evidence to support decision-making processes in health”, organized by BIREME, was designed to identify opportunities and generate recommendations of activities, products and services related to information, in order to promote access, use and application of evidence in health decisions. Several recommendations to support managers and decision makers were put forward during the event.

Resource mobilization is the focus of ERP capacity building at BIREME

In order to strengthen capacities for resource mobilization in country offices, PAHO/WHO through its External Relations, Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Department (ERP) together with BIREME organized the “Subregional Workshop for Institutional Strengthening in Project Development and Management, Resource Mobilization and Political Advocacy”, on November 27-29, 2017. The event had more than thirty participants from Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela, as well as from PAHO Specialized Centers, BIREME and PANAFTOSA.