Enhancing internet connectivity in Misiones Health Centres

As part of the federal satellite communication plan, a team from the local health ministry toured a primary health care center in Posadas.

A delegation of the National Ministry of Health headed by the Undersecretary for Health Systems Integration and Primary Care, Fabian Buratich, visited the province of Misiones, where, together with the head of the local Ministry of Health, Oscar Alarcón, he toured the Center 508 Itaembé Guazú, in Posadas, one of the 51 actors in the state Jurisdiction that Internet connectivity is provided through the Federal Primary Health Care Centers Satellite Communications Plan.

During the activity, the authorities monitored the internet connection via satellite, the implementation of improvements was evaluated, and continuous training was provided to the staff through participation in the virtual training. For their part, the local health agents noted that since the placement of the antennas greater stability and speed of navigation had been achieved, allowing for improved overall patient care, shortening distances and times for consultation or inter-consultation.

The federal satellite communications plan provides Internet connectivity to primary health care centers across the country, where fiber optics do not reach and where communication can only be accessed via satellite. Institutions from Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca, Tucumán, La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, Neuquén, Chubut, Santa Cruz, Formosa, Misiones, Chaco, Corrientes, Santiago del Estero, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, and Black River.

Among its goals, the initiative seeks to avoid transferring patients and health agents from one health influencer to another, and to provide teleconsultations and interconsultations with CAPS or other levels of care and their specialists across the country. In addition, it seeks to ensure access to medical orders, prescriptions, and digital medical records, which allow for better data recording, as well as personal monitoring of patients by health workers.

The plan, which was officially launched by the president last October, required an investment of 1.3 billion pesos to provide internet service to 1,697 medical institutions in 19 provinces. The state communications company ARSAT will be responsible for providing the antennas that will allow the deployment of satellite communication in CAPS, as well as the use of the telemedicine method.

Also participating in the activity were the Directors of Health Systems Integration and Health Information Systems, Javier Torienzo and Rodrigo Krener, respectively, on behalf of the National Health Profile. The meeting was also attended by the head of the health committee, deputy Martin Ceseno, and his counterpart, Hector Lira.