Ahead of the PH4H 2025 Connectathon, the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean —RACSEL members— have strengthened their technical capacities in digital health. Through a series of seminars with international experts, national teams prepared to test their interoperability solutions and continue driving the secure exchange of clinical information in the region.
The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean have already begun their journey toward the PH4H 2025 Connectathon, strengthening their technical capacities through a series of seminars with international digital health experts, organized with the support of the Latin America and Caribbean Network for Digital Health (RACSEL).
These training sessions were designed to provide concrete tools so that national teams could successfully tackle the interoperability challenges posed by the regional connectathon.
Digital Health Seminar Series
The first webinar focused on the fundamentals of the HL7 standard versions, with special attention to FHIR, and on the use of semantic standards to implement health interoperability processes. The session was led by Fernando Portilla, a digital health engineer and consultant for the IDB and RACSEL, who guided participants through the practical application of these technical foundations.
The second session addressed the IPS-LAC standard (International Patient Summary) and its FHIR profiling for the region, highlighting its implementation guide, examples, and experiences. The presentation was led by Lucía Grundel, a systems engineer, and once again by Fernando Portilla, who explained how this standard becomes a key piece for advancing the secure and effective exchange of clinical information between countries.
The training agenda also included an international perspective. The third seminar presented the Canadian experience in the national implementation of the IPS, led by Allana Cameron, leader of the Pan-Canadian Patient Summary, and Alex Reis, Director of Interoperability at Canada Health Infoway. Attendees learned about a real-world case of standards adoption, the strategies used to overcome technical and organizational challenges, and lessons applicable to projects in the region.
Another milestone of the series was the presentation of PAHO's "All in One" solution for Latin America and the Caribbean, led by Dr. Carlos Otero, PAHO telehealth consultant. This tool seeks to improve access to and the quality of medical care in remote populations, integrating teleconsultations, health worker training, and the use of the TeleKIT, a set of equipment and resources to facilitate remote care delivery, especially in primary care and noncommunicable diseases.
Finally, the fifth seminar was dedicated to the Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN), led by Carl Leitner of the World Health Organization. The session allowed countries to learn about the structure, standards, and benefits of this open platform, designed to ensure that digital health solutions are inclusive and reach all communities without exclusions.
