Digital Health Project is launched at the Uepa Center for Biological and Health Sciences

The State University of Pará launched, this Thursday (9), the Uepa Digital Health Project, which aims to offer specialized health care to the population of several municipalities in the State via the internet. The objective is to strengthen health care and expand patient access.

The launch took place during the Digital Health and Telehealth Workshop, promoted by the Ministry of Health, Uepa and the State Department of Health (Sespa), during the 9th and 10th, at the Center for Biological and Health Sciences (CCBS), in Belém The Workshop aims to help prepare the assistance network in the city of Belém and the Metropolitan Region to host the 30th UN Conference on Climate Change (COP30), which will take place in November 2025 in Pará.

The Uepa Digital Health Project will provide quality care remotely, connecting citizens via the internet to CCBS health services. The implementation of the project, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, aims to continue the activities of the already implemented Pará Telehealth Center, which coordinates digital health services and supports the Family Health Strategy (ESF) of the Unified Health System (SUS).

By reducing the risks, injuries and costs associated with travel, the project “strengthens and maintains citizens and professionals who work in distant areas through digital inclusion. Furthermore, it seeks to improve Primary Health Care care, through digital integration and the promotion of distance education and the use of resources and modern information and digital communication technologies”, highlighted the professor and director of CCBS, Emanuel Sousa, Project’s coordenador.

Saúde Digital will have medical professionals from general practice and several other specialties such as psychiatry, neurology, orthopedics, cardiology and dermatology. Physiotherapists and nursing professionals will also be part of the Digital Health service.

The physical space of the Saúde Digital project, on Campus II at Uepa, will have four consulting rooms for online consultations with the entire technical technology structure and reception and coordination rooms.

Which municipalities will be served by Saúde Digital?

“Around 30 municipalities have already signed a partnership for services through the Digital Health project, including Bragança, Oriximiná, Salinópolis, Bom Jesus do Tocantins and Parauapebas. Students from health courses who will work on the project will receive scholarships and around 10 specialist doctors will be present digitally, working to improve the quality of life of the state’s population”, reiterated Professor Emanuel Sousa.

The mastery of technology in the implementation of Digital Health initiatives allows quick and safe access, with guaranteed security and confidentiality, to technical and scientific information via the internet among health professionals, especially in various medical areas. Furthermore, it facilitates the sending of exams and the analysis of procedures remotely, helping to prepare diagnoses and enabling the discussion of treatment options.

Participating in the event were the Pro-Rector of Research and Postgraduate Studies at Uepa, Jofre Jacob da Silva Freitas; the Director of the Center for Biological and Health Sciences (CCBS), Emanuel Sousa, coordinator of the Uepa Telehealth Center; Eliete de Oliveira, representative of the Department of Digital Health and Innovation, of the Ministry of Health; Socorro Castelo Branco, Coordinator of the Telehealth Center at UFPA; Jucilene Barbosa, President of the Council of Municipal Health Secretariats of Pará (COSEMS/PA); Delcimar Viana, Superintendent of the Ministry of Health in Pará; Regina Feio, Superintendent of the UFPA University Hospital Complex; Ana Paula Oliva, representative of the State Department of Health (Sespa); Pedro Anaisse, Secretary of Health in the municipality of Belém and other secretaries of municipalities in Pará.

“Through digital health, improvement in information technology and the evolution of the SUS, we were able to guarantee more human resources for the territory, qualifying and retaining professionals in the most remote locations in the country”, said Eliete de Oliveira, representative of the Department of Digital Health and Innovation/MS.

The Pro-Rector of Research and Postgraduate Studies at Uepa, Jofre Jacob da Silva Freitas explained that “as a University, we fulfill our mission of training professionals for the state. We know the logistical difficulty of reaching the locations and that there is still a lack of many health professionals in Pará”. And he added: “Our region is endemic for several diseases, we are here joining efforts to improve the SUS through Digital Health. The health situation in Pará is urgent and the inclusion of Digital health in Pará is of fundamental importance and impact to preserve the health of our population”.

The Workshop continues until tomorrow, at Campus II/CCBS, with debates and lectures on SUS Digital, telediagnosis, demonstration of teleconsultations and successful experiences in telehealth in the country. Campus II of the Center for Biological and Health Sciences (CCBS) is located on Trav. Perebebuí 2623, in Belém.

Text: Diane Maués (Ascom Uepa)

Source: PA Government