The Digitalization of the National Health System Is Underway

Health management is experiencing a key moment: Today, we can have a medical consultation without leaving home, have an Electronic Medical Record available for the doctor to know our health status, or have an Electronic Medical Prescription for better control of medicines at pharmacies. 

Who would have imagined that at some point we would have applications at hand for doctors to monitor the progress of their patients, and that the gathered data could be used to adjust doses, change treatments, or simply maintain optimal control of the medications prescribed and supplied. 

The transformation of the healthcare system is possible thanks to the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), tools that contribute to the right conditions to achieve an adaptable, intelligent, and interconnected healthcare ecosystem that improves the experience of all those involved in the value chain, from pharmaceutical laboratories, distributors and hospitals, to pharmacies, doctors, and patients.

However, this reality is not yet available to all Mexicans. It is necessary to lay the foundations to achieve the comprehensive digitalization of the healthcare system in Mexico and, with it, greater access and quality of health services.

The World Health Organization (WHO), in its resolution on Digital Health, points out that one of the main challenges facing healthcare digitalization in Mexico is the absence of public policies, a regulatory framework and accountability to enable the interoperability of the health ecosystem, which would facilitate the supply and availability of medicines, avoiding problems such as shortages, theft, counterfeiting and, consequently, delays in access to therapies and in the care required by patients.

Given this scenario, the Coalition for Digital Health in Mexico (CoSaDiM) was recently created. A working group led by GS1 Mexico is made up of important key institutions, including CANIFARMA, AMIIF, AMID, FUNSALUD, Mexican Hospital Consortium, and renowned e-health companies, whose objective is to promote the transformation and strengthening of the Mexican healthcare system through digitalization.

CoSaDiM's main lines of action include generating and promoting the interoperability and efficiency of the Mexican health system through mechanisms for sending and receiving information on medications in a standardized, updated, homologated and complete manner, as well as contributing to the consolidation of a patient-centric system that promotes access to the best care and the required therapies in a timely manner for the benefit of the patient's well-being and quality of life.

The correct use of ICTs would help the collection, transmission, exchange, and processing of data between health information systems and e-health services to be carried out effectively, consistently, and accurately with significant benefits, such as facilitating access to supplies and/or medicines, democratizing the use of the Electronic Health Record and the Electronic Medical Prescription, minimizing waiting times, promoting more accurate diagnoses and timely treatment, reducing operating costs, and improving the coverage of health services.

The CoSaDiM is tasked with projecting proposals and generating synergies between all the key actors: government, pharmaceutical industry, service providers, hospital institutions and pharmacies, among others. 

Ninety-five percent of patient data is not stored, 80% of clinical treatment decisions are made in laboratories, and the more than 40,000 pharmacies in the country serve an average of 15,000 people per day. If all this information were added to the standardization, traceability, and interoperability processes, it would not only positively change the patient and healthcare professional experience, but that of the entire value chain.

We are aware that there are many challenges to achieve digitalization; however, we are confident that initiatives such as CoSaDiM are an important step to coordinate efforts and deliver results that allow us to guarantee the right to health and contribute to the creation of an equitable, efficient, and sustainable healthcare system for all.