GNU Health en el Instituto de Previsión Social y Ministerio de Salud Pública de Paraguay

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El sábado regresamos de Paraguay, donde fuimos invitados por el Gabinete Civil de la Presidencia de la República (Nicolás Caballero - Coordinador de Innovación Tecnológica - ) y por el departamento de informática del Instituto de Previsión Social ( Ana Ayala - CIO de la Dirección Informática -  y Rosa González - Líder del departamento informático de Salud - ), para presentar GNU Health , el sistema Libre de Gestión Hospitalaria y de Salud. 

Me alegra ver como Paraguay adopta Software Libre en sus sistemas de Salud Pública , en equipo,  desde el Gabinete de la Presidencia, el Instituto de Previsión Social (IPS) y el Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social (MSPBS).

Actualmente Paraguay encara la informática médica como un bien público, inseparable del contexto de Salud Pública. 

En el hospital Dr. Emilio Cubas. El centro de salud más grande de Paraguay

Pasamos dos días en Asunción, visitando las diferentes clínicas  y hospitales, así como en reuniones con los profesionales de la salud y del gobierno. En estas reuniones, Nicolás Caballero nos explicó las resoluciones que el gobierno de Paraguay está tomando para la adopción de software libre en salud pública.

Nicolás Caballero, Julio Perrota, Ana Ayala, Nelson Caballero, Rosa González y la Dra Carmen Frutos

Luis Falcón, Nurhizam Safie, Cristina Melgosa, Rosa González y Ana Ayala 

Después de visitar distintos centros de salud, nos reunimos con el equipo de informática, con quienes discutimos detalles técnicos de GNU Health, como el entorno de programación, seguridad, escalabilidad y reporting. También nos mostraron su centro de datos donde brindan soporte a todo el país.

Explicando detalles técnicos de GNU Health en el  Hospital General

En la clínica Nanawa: Nurhizam Safie, Luis Falcón, Cristina Melgosa, María Victoria Benítez 

El Doctor Nurhizam Safie, de la Universidad de las Naciones Unidas, Instituto Internacional de Salud Global (UNU-IIGH), partner de GNU Solidario, nos mostró implementaciones de GNU Health en Asia, África y Latinoamérica.

Nurhizam enfatizó el compromiso de las UNU - el brazo académico de las Naciones Unidas - con GNU Health y su posible implementación en el sistema de salud pública de Paraguay, como medio de universalidad la salud. Al día de hoy, la Universidad de las Naciones unidas provee capacitación en GNU Health.

Dr. Nurhizam Safie de las Naciones Unidas en su presentación de GNU Health en IPS

Parte del equipo de informática en el hospital central 

Rosa González, líder del departamento de sistemas informáticos de salud, nos llevó a recorrer los distintos centros de salud, y sus departamentos. Entre ellos: Farmacia, Laboratorio, citas, hospitalización y diagnóstico por imágenes. 

Rosa explicó a su equipo la licencia GPL ( GNU General Public License), por lo que ellos tienen toda la libertad de usar y parametrizar GNU Health con el fin de adecuarlo a sus necesidades. Recalqué la importancia de trabajar con la comunidad, porque ellos son parte de la comunidad y aportarán valor agregado al proyecto. GNU Health es el resultado del  esfuerzo de equipos multi-disciplinarios y multi-culturales.

En el hospital Geriátrico

Nurhizam, Cristina Melgosa and Rosa González en el salón de entrada del IPS

El viernes al mediodía fuimos invitados por la Dra. Graciela Gamarra, Directora General de Información Estratégica en Salud, del Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social. Julio Galeana nos mostró los desarrollos que ha realizado el ministerio en software libre en epidemiología.

Conversamos sobre la posibilidad de integrar los sistemas actuales con GNU Health, y su enlace con el sistema de epidemiología actual.

Aprovechando para almorzar

Quiero agradecer al Gobierno de Paraguay por su invitación y hospitalidad, en particular a Rosa González, Ana Ayala y Nicolás Caballero, quienes desde IWEEE Brasil mostraron su interés por llevar a cabo esta reunión. Gracias a Juan Carlos Ávalos y el equipo de logística por hacernos sentir como en casa !

Hoy Latinoamércia es un punto de referencia en la adopción de Software Libre en administración  y salud pública, brindando equidad y universalidad en salud a sus habitantes.

Por último, gracias a Richard Stallman, padre del software libre, quien habló del proyecto con Nicolás Caballero en su momento y nos refirió.

Acerca de GNU Health

GNU Health es el sistema Gestión Hospitalaria y de Información de salud de Software Libre que ofrece las siguientes funciones : 

• Expediente Médico Electrónico (EMR)
• Sistema de Gestión Hospitalaria (HIS)
• Sistema de Información de Salud (Epidemiología)

GNU Health es parte de GNU Solidario, una ONG que implementa soluciones de Salud y Educación mediante software libre. 

GNU Health es software oficial del sistema GNU, adoptado por Richard Stallman y la Free Software Foundation. Las Naciones Unidas, por medio del Instituto Internacional de Salud Global, capacita y promueve el uso de GNU Health en los países donde tienen presencia. 

Gobiernos con GNU Health en sus Portales

• Brasil : Portal do Software Público Brasileiro (SPB) 
• Comunidad Europea : OSOR / JoinUp

Página principal : health.gnu.org

GNU Health at Paraguay Ministry of Public Health

I just got back from Paraguay, where we were invited by Mr. Nicolás Caballero from the Paraguayan Government to talk about GNU Health at the Social Security Institute (IPS - Instituto de Previsión Social ) and Ministry of Public Health .

It's great  to see how Paraguay is adopting Free Software in the Public Health System, working as a team, from the presidency office, the Social Security Institute (IPS) and the Ministry of Public Health (MSPBS).

I noticed how the government conceives Health informatics as a public good, an integral component  of Public Health.   

At Dr. Emilio Cubas Hospital. The largest health center in Paraguay

We spent two non-stop days in Asunción, capital of Paraguay, visiting the different health centers and having meetings with health officials. In those meetings, Nicolas Caballero explained the latest and concrete resolutions that the Paraguayan government is taking on Free Software adoption in public health care. 

Nicolas Caballero and Social Security Institute (IPS) members

Luis Falcón, Nurhizam Safie, Cristina Melgosa, Rosa González and Ana Ayala (director of Informatics)  from IPS

After visiting the different health centers, we had a meeting with the information system team, with whom we discussed the technical details about GNU Health, such as the programming environment, security, scalability and reporting. 

Explaining technical details about GNU Health at the General Hospital

At Clinica Nanawa

Dr. Nurhizam Safie, from the United Nations University, Institute of Global Health explained the partnership with GNU Solidario, and implementation cases of GNU Health in Asia, Africa and Latinamerica.

Nurhizam stressed the commitment of the UNU - the academic branch of the United Nations - with GNU Health and the implementation in the Paraguayan Public Health system, as a way of delivering universality in health care. Today UNU provides training and capacity building in GNU Health implementations.  

Dr. Nurhizam Safie from United Nations University, talking about the UNU commitment to the project

Part of the Informatics department team at Central Hospital led by Rosa González

Ms. Rosa González, Social Security Institute chief of the informatics department, gave us an extensive tour throughout different health institutions and their departments. Among them: Pharmacy, Laboratory, Appointments, Inpatient administration and Imaging.

Rosa explained to her team that GNU Health is licensed under GPL, the GNU General Public License, so they have all the freedom to use and custumize GNU Health to fit their needs. I stressed the importance of working with the community, so the health informatics team can always ask questions in public forums and share with us their developments and bug fixes. GNU Health is the result of many contributions and feedback  from an international community and multi-disciplinary teams.

Dr Nurhizam, Cristina Melgosa and Rosa González at IPS entrance hall

On Friday afternoon we were invited by Dr. Graciela Gamarra, General Director of Strategic Health Information Systems, from the Health Ministry (Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social). They showed us their current epidemiology systems that are being built on Free Software.

We also discussed on integrating all the current systems with GNU Health, and link it to the current epidemiology engine.

Taking a break

I want to thank the government of Paraguay for inviting us and for the hospitality, they made us feel at home.

But most importantly, I want to thank the government of Paraguay for the commitment with Free Software in Public Health. Latin America is today a leader in the adoption of Free Software in public administrations, delivering equity and universality in health care for their habitants.

Last but not least, thanks to Richard Stallman, who referred GNU Health to Nicolás Caballero , chief technology innovation officer of the Presidency office.  Thanks Nicolás for making this possible !


Luis Falcón
GNU Solidario

GNU Health at AfriHealth 30 November-1 December 2011

AfriHealth was first held in 2007 to bring together researchers, medical practitioners and ICT personnel to share information on the developments in the use of ICT to improve healthcare in Africa. We have in the past addressed the use of ICT to improve patient safety and enhance healthcare delivery in Africa.

AfriHealth 2011 will focus on current research, development and implementation of ICT technology and resources in the African Healthcare arena. A key objective of the conference, now in its fourth year, will be to share knowledge and experience from practical mobilization of ICT-based healthcare systems and projects, to showcase best practice through practical case studies and highlight potential for scaling up success stories at national and regional levels (more info: http://aitecafrica.com/event/view/74)

 

In this year edition, Dr. Nurhizam Safie, from the United Nations University, International Institute of Global Health (UNU-IIGH), Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia will give a workshop about Open Source Healthcare Information Systems and will talk about their experience with GNU Health and why it was chosen by the United Nations University.

At AfriHealth will also participate Dr Christoph Larsen, synaLinQ, Vietnam & Kenya (a very active member of the GNU Health community). He will be giving a speech on Addressing the fragile environment of e-health in resource-limited settings.

You can download the full program at the following link: http://bit.ly/uU4EVd

United Nations University offers courses in GNU Health

The United Nations University (UNU) is the academic arm of the United Nations.

The establishment of United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) befits the role of the United Nations in the effort to resolve issues pertaining to the well being of its
people and member states.

The role of UNU-IIGH fulfills the needs to achieve the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) as the role transcends all the agendas as outlined in the MDGs.

UNU-IIGH is to undertake research, capacity development and dissemination of knowledge related to key issues of human health. The institute seeks to contribute to the development and strengthening of health services policy frameworks and management actions, particularly for people in developing countries and to support implementation of promotive approach to human health.

GNU Health Courses at the UNU-IIGH

The UNU-IIGH offers courses on the use of GNU Health, both from the technical and functional side.

Technical Training

- Installation from scratch ( Database, Tryton and GNU Health )

- Module development and Installation

- Introduction to reporting using LibreOffice and Tryton

- Security aspects

- Introduction to the development environment ( GNU Savannah and Mercurial )

- Data security and integrity

Functional Training

- Localization ( accounting, currency, language .. )

- Workflows

- Health center administration (Finances, stock, Supply Chain Management, ... )

- User profiles and groups

- Introduction to Patient Management

For more information please refer to :

Dr. Nurhizam Safie : nurhizam@unu.edu

http://unu.edu/institutes-and-programmes/institutes/unu-iigh

About GNU Health

GNU Health (formerly known as "Medical") is a free (GPL license), Health and Hospital Information System that provides the following functionality :

• Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
• Hospital Information System (HIS)
• Health Information System

GNU Health is an official GNU Package and is part of GNU Solidario. GNU Solidario is a NGO that delivers education and health to emerging economies with free software.

GNU Health is the Hospital Information System chosen by the United Nations International Institute of Global Health.

Main site : health.gnu.org

Governments hosting GNU Health through their portals :

European Commission (EU) , OSOR 

Brazil: Portal do Software Público Brasileiro (SPB)