Según el Minsa, esta medida reducirá los tiempos de entrega de resultados, optimizando el diagnóstico y mejorando la oportunidad y calidad de los tratamientos médicos.

Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá/El Ministerio de Salud (Minsa), en colaboración con el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID), realizaron lanzó este miércoles 5 de febrero la iniciativa "Revolución Digital en Salud", un proyecto que incorpora el uso de drones para fortalecer la Estrategia de Extensión de Cobertura de Atención Primaria en Salud (EEC-APS).

Este programa, que opera desde hace más de 25 años en 12 regiones de salud del país, ha llevado servicios médicos a más de 281,000 personas en comunidades vulnerables, indígenas y de difícil acceso.

El nuevo sistema permitirá el transporte de muestras de laboratorio de pacientes con enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles (ECNT) y mujeres embarazadas desde áreas rurales hasta el hospital de Cañazas, donde serán analizadas. El ministro de Salud, Fernando Boyd Galindo, destacó la importancia de esta innovación: 

"Gracias a esta transformación digital, podemos mejorar significativamente la calidad de la atención médica en comunidades dispersas. Las giras médicas y el traslado de pruebas con drones no solo facilitan la labor del personal de salud, sino que garantizan un seguimiento adecuado para los pacientes".

Según el Minsa, esta medida reducirá los tiempos de entrega de resultados, optimizando el diagnóstico y mejorando la oportunidad y calidad de los tratamientos médicos.

Digitalización de la atención médica

Desde 2023, el proyecto "Transformación Digital de la Estrategia de Extensión de Cobertura" se implementa en los distritos de Cañazas y Las Palmas, en la provincia de Veraguas. Su objetivo es acercar la atención médica a más de 37,500 personas en 560 comunidades rurales e indígenas, con énfasis en la detección temprana de enfermedades como hipertensión arterial, diabetes mellitus y lesiones cérvico-uterinas.

Además, se incorpora la plataforma MediGiras, un expediente clínico digital que registra la información de cada paciente y permite su consulta en cualquier centro de salud del Minsa que utilice el Sistema Electrónico de Información en Salud (SEIS).

"El compromiso del BID con Panamá es firme. Seguiremos apoyando la transformación digital del sector salud y la expansión de soluciones innovadoras que mejoren la atención primaria", afirmó Gloria Lugo, representante del BID. Según el Minsa, hasta la fecha, el programa ha identificado y atendido a:

• 1,600 pacientes hipertensos, de los cuales el 57% son mujeres.

• 357 personas con diabetes, con un 69% de mujeres afectadas.

• 500 mujeres en edad fértil y 440 embarazadas, quienes han recibido ultrasonidos obstétricos y pruebas de laboratorio como VIH, sífilis, glucosa, uroanálisis y hepatitis.

• 5 casos de malformaciones congénitas en recién nacidos, referidos a hospitales de tercer nivel para un manejo especializado.

According to Minsa, this measure will reduce delivery times for results, optimizing diagnosis and improving the timeliness and quality of medical treatments.

Panama City, Panama/The Ministry of Health (Minsa), in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), launched this Wednesday, February 5, the “Digital Revolution in Health” initiative, a project that incorporates the use of drones to strengthen the Extension of Primary Health Care Coverage Strategy (EEC-APS).

This program, which has been operating for more than 25 years in 12 health regions of the country, has brought medical services to more than 281,000 people in vulnerable, indigenous and hard-to-reach communities.

The new system will enable the transport of laboratory samples of patients with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and pregnant women from rural areas to the Cañazas hospital, where they will be analyzed. The Minister of Health, Fernando Boyd Galindo, highlighted the importance of this innovation: 

“Thanks to this digital transformation, we can significantly improve the quality of medical care in dispersed communities. Medical tours and the transfer of tests with drones not only facilitate the work of health personnel, but also guarantee adequate follow-up for patients.”

According to Minsa, this measure will reduce delivery times for results, optimizing diagnosis and improving the timeliness and quality of medical treatments.

Digitalization of medical care

Since 2023, the project “Digital Transformation of the Coverage Extension Strategy” has been implemented in the districts of Cañazas and Las Palmas, in the province of Veraguas. Its objective is to bring medical care closer to more than 37,500 people in 560 rural and indigenous communities, with emphasis on the early detection of diseases such as arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cervical-uterine lesions.

In addition, the MediGiras platform is incorporated, a digital clinical record that registers the information of each patient and allows it to be consulted at any Minsa health center that uses the Electronic Health Information System (SEIS).

“The IDB's commitment to Panama is firm. We will continue to support the digital transformation of the health sector and the expansion of innovative solutions that improve primary care,” said Gloria Lugo, IDB representative. According to Minsa, to date, the program has identified and served:

• 1,600 hypertensive patients, 57% of whom are women.

• 357 people with diabetes, 69% of whom are women.

• 500 women of childbearing age and 440 pregnant women, who have received obstetric ultrasounds and laboratory tests such as HIV, syphilis, glucose, uroanalysis and hepatitis.

• 5 cases of congenital malformations in newborns, referred to tertiary hospitals for specialized management.

According to the Ministry of Health (Minsa), this measure will reduce the turnaround time for results, optimizing diagnosis and improving the timeliness and quality of medical treatments. 

Panama City, Panama / The Ministry of Health (Minsa), in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), launched the initiative "Digital Revolution in Health" on Wednesday, February 5, a project that incorporates the use of drones to strengthen the Primary Health Care Coverage Extension Strategy (EEC-APS). 

This program, which has been operating for over 25 years in 12 health regions of the country, has provided medical services to more than 281,000 people in vulnerable, indigenous, and hard-to-reach communities. 

The new system will allow for the transportation of laboratory samples from patients with non-communicable chronic diseases (NCCDs) and pregnant women from rural areas to the Cañazas hospital, where they will be analyzed. Health Minister Fernando Boyd Galindo emphasized the importance of this innovation: 

"Thanks to this digital transformation, we can significantly improve the quality of medical care in dispersed communities. Medical tours and the transport of samples by drones not only facilitate the work of health personnel but also ensure proper follow-up for patients." 

According to the Minsa, this measure will reduce the turnaround time for results, optimizing diagnosis and improving the timeliness and quality of of medical treatments.

Digitalization of healthcare 

Since 2023, the project "Digital Transformation of the Coverage Extension Strategy" is being implemented in the districts of Cañazas and Las Palmas, in the province of Veraguas. Its goal is to bring healthcare closer to more than 37,500 people in 560 rural and indigenous communities, with an emphasis on the early detection of diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cervical-uterine lesions. 

In addition, the MediGiras platform is incorporated, a digital medical record that registers each patient's information and allows consultation in any Minsa health center that uses the Electronic Health Information System (SEIS). 

"The IDB's commitment to Panama is firm. We will continue to support the digital transformation of the health sector and the expansion of innovative solutions that improve primary care," said Gloria Lugo, IDB representative. According to Minsa, to date, the program has identified and treated: 

• 1,600 hypertensive patients, of which 57% are women. 

• 357 people with diabetes, with 69% of affected being women. 

• 500 women of childbearing age and 440 pregnant women, who have received obstetric ultrasounds and laboratory tests such as HIV, syphilis, glucose, urinalysis, and hepatitis.

• 5 cases of congenital malformations in newborns, referred to tertiary hospitals for specialized management.