Ministry Launches First Health Datathon to Unify Patient Records Nationwide

Various entities that gather health-related data gathered in Belize City this morning for a first-of-its-kind health sector “Datathon”. Hosted by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the two-day initiative is aimed at streamlining patient data to create a comprehensive national system. The event sees the participation of organizations such as the National Forensic Science Service and Statistical Institute of Belize, along with the ministry’s partner agencies, such as the Pan American Health Organization. Dr. Andrei Chell, Director of Policy, Planning, and Research at the Ministry, says that the goal is to use data to improve the services provided by the Ministry.

Dr. Andrei Chell, Director of Policy, Planning and Research, MOHW: “We are bringing different institutions here in Belize to really, over the next two days, have exercise to promote data sharing, to see the different databases that each institution is using and really see where the data is coming from, right? We want to do a mapping really to see where all this health data is coming and how we as a ministry then can use this data to inform our policies and actions. At the ministry, of course, we collect health data through our BHIS, which is the Belize Health Information System, right? But then the main reason of having different institutions here is because the Ministry of Health is not the sole institution that collects data. So we need to look at interoperability and see how we can create that sharing of data in order for us to have that holistic view of really what is out there. The main objective of this datathon is actually to put the Ministry of Health as the steward of health data governance, right? So we are trying to look now at digital health transformation. We’re all moving towards that digital era of modernizing our health system.  So we as a ministry now, we have that mandate to actually ensure that whatever data we receive meets the quality of what we need and that data in turn then will inform our policies, our actions which then translate to the better health outcomes that we want to give to the entire Belizean population.”

Juan Carlos Saravia, IT Manager for the Ministry, said that the security of the data is also a major priority in the digital transformation efforts. 

Juan Carlos Sarabia, IT Manager, MOHW: “So the CDEP  was built in a very secure platform, meaning that different institutions or organizations would need to subscribe to it in order for them to be able to access data. And it’s not just accessing data, but it’s what agreement can be made with the Ministry of Health and Wellness on what data can be shared about the patient. The way the system was built, I can speak a lot about it. I mean, it’s being hosted in the CITO network I mean it’s difficult for any data breach to happen. I mean they have high security and also you know, the CDEP does come with user access authentication and audit, meaning that we do control who is able to access the system, when they’re able to access the system, and even audit, meaning that we control what the users are doing with the system.  So this kind of gives us, I mean it puts priority on these type of breaches or  issues that you guys are concerned about. “

The Ministry says that there will be follow-up sessions to further streamline the flow of data.