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Rev. CMV. 2023;1(1-3):e007 e-ISSN: 2958-9533 1
Special Colaboration
Health Information Systems, relevance and realities in the face of the
SARS-COV-2 virus pandemic
Los Sistemas de Información en Salud, relevancia y realidades ante la
pandemia del virus SARS-COV-2
Systèmes d'information sur la santé, pertinence et réalités face à la
pandémie du virus SRAS-COV-2
Author: Dayami Gutiérrez Vera1
1 Licenciada en Enfermería. Especialista de I grado en Bioestadística. Máster en Longevidad Satisfactoria. Doctora en Ciencias
de la Educación Médica. Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de la Habana, Facultad de Tecnología de la Salud. La Habana. Cuba.
Correo electrónico: dayamigvera@infomed.sld.cu Código Orcid: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5515-7732
ABSTRACT
Health Information Systems become a
transforming agent in the pandemic scenario
of the SARS-COV-2 virus. The interpretation of
the health information is useful for the
diagnosis, planning, evaluation, comparison
and monitoring of the health situation. Health
Information Systems are relevant and real in
the face of the SARS-COV-2 virus pandemic.
Health Information Systems allow the
integration and application of knowledge, to
process the information and the health
decision-makers updated for decision-making
based on the information they will have
available. They allow equity in health to be a
reality, to eliminate all differences and reduce
those that are avoidable and unfair in access
to health services; by placing the patient,
family and community at the center of the
analysis; It guides better management of
patient trajectories throughout the health
system so that it is sustainable. The relevance
and realities of Health Information Systems, in
the face of the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic,
support the execution of integrating protocols
for action against the virus. They are also
useful in the design of effective and efficient
health intervention actions, to achieve control
of the virus in the individual, the family and the
community, with a health and inclusive
approach.
https://editorial.udv.edu.gt/index.php/RCMV
*Autor para correspondencia: Dayami Gutiérrez Vera Correo electrónico: dayamigvera@infomed.sld.cu
Recibido el 29 de diciembre de 2022. Aceptado el 09 de febrero de 2023.
Rev. CMV. 2023;1(1-3):e007 e-ISSN: 2958-9533 2
Key words: health information, health
information systems, SARS-CoV-2 virus
RESUMEN
Los Sistemas de Información en Salud se
convierten en un agente transformador del
escenario pandémico del virus SARS-COV-2.
La interpretación de la información en salud
que se procesa, es útil para el diagnóstico,
planificación, evaluación, comparación y
monitoreo de la situación de salud. Se hace
pertinente fundamentar en el presente
comentario las relevancias y realidades ante la
pandemia del virus SARS-COV-2 de los
Sistemas de Información en Salud. Es una
realidad que los Sistemas de Información en
Salud permiten la integración y aplicación de
los conocimientos, para procesar la
información y mantener actualizados desde la
ciencia a los decisores de salud de un territorio
dado, para la toma decisiones con base a la
información que tendrán disponible. Permiten
que sea una realidad la equidad en salud, para
eliminar todas las diferencias y reducir aquellas
evitables e injustas en el acceso a los servicios
de salud; al colocar al paciente, familia y
comunidad en el centro del análisis; orienta
hacer una mejor gestión de las trayectorias de
los pacientes a lo largo del sistema de salud
para que sea sostenible. Las relevancias y
realidades de los Sistemas de Información en
Salud, ante la pandemia del virus SARS-CoV-
2, sustentan la ejecución de protocolos
integradores de actuación contra el virus. Son
útiles, además, en el diseño de acciones de
intervención sanitaria eficaces y eficientes,
para lograr el control del virus en el individuo,
la familia y la comunidad, con enfoque
salubrista e inclusivo.
Palabras clave: información en salud,
sistemas de información, virus SARS-CoV-2
RÉSUMÉ
Les systèmes d'information sur la santé
deviennent un agent transformateur dans le
scénario pandémique du virus SARS-COV-2.
L'interprétation des informations de santé
traitées est utile pour le diagnostic, la
planification, l'évaluation, la comparaison et le
suivi de la situation sanitaire. Il est pertinent
de fonder sur cette remarque la pertinence et
les réalités face à la pandémie du virus SARS-
COV-2 des Systèmes d'Information de Santé.
C'est une réalité que les systèmes
d'information sur la santé permettent
l'intégration et l'application des connaissances,
pour traiter l'information et tenir les décideurs
en santé d'un territoire donné à jour de la
science, pour une prise de décision basée sur
les informations dont ils disposeront. Ils
permettent de faire de l'équité en santé une
réalité, d'éliminer toutes les différences et de
réduire celles qui sont évitables et injustes
dans l'accès aux services de santé ; en plaçant
le patient, la famille et la communauté au
centre de l'analyse ; Elle oriente une meilleure
gestion des trajectoires des patients dans
l'ensemble du système de santé afin qu'elle
soit pérenne. La pertinence et les réalités des
Systèmes d'Information de Santé, face à la
pandémie du virus SARS-CoV-2, appuient
l'exécution de protocoles intégrateurs d'action
contre le virus. Ils sont également utiles dans
la conception d'actions d'intervention sanitaire
efficaces et efficientes, pour parvenir à
contrôler le virus chez l'individu, la famille et la
communauté, avec une approche sanitaire et
inclusive.
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Rev. CMV. 2023;1(1-3):e007 e-ISSN: 2958-9533 3
Mots clés: information sur la santé, systèmes
d'information sur la santé, virus SARS-CoV-2
EXHIBITION OF THE COMMENT
The SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic has claimed
thousands of human lives in a short time.
Currently, the world is suffering one of the
worst periods in contemporary history, in
terms of loss of human life. Only surpassed,
until now, by the warlike confrontations of the
Second World War, in the first half of the 20th
century.
Epidemics are threats to the lives of human
beings, which have accompanied society since
the Cro-Magnon ancestors. The person
responsible for this global tragedy is the
appearance of a new epidemic caused by the
SARS-CoV-2 virus, at the end of 2019 in China.
The virus has been maintained over time with
an increase in cases around the world. The
factors that lead to the disease and its rapid
spread in a short time, is what leads to the
declaration of a state of pandemic in March
2020 by the World Health Organization
(WHO).1
To combat the pandemic caused by the SARS-
CoV-2 virus, which has caused a global health
emergency situation, it is necessary to have
updated, truthful, comprehensive and timely
health information for decision-making to deal
with the pandemic. Effective, efficient manner
with a salubrious approach.
According to Oliver,2 the Health Systems, due
to their mission, coverage and characteristics,
as well as the strategic and programmatic
approach as a vision, require a constant flow
of information. It allows maintaining a high
level of knowledge of each of the activities that
are carried out at all levels for the conduction
of the management processes in the services.
Thereby, the flow of health information needed
by decision-makers provided by the Health
Information Systems (SIS) is reflected.
According to Gutierrez "The SIS, allow through
actions and operations carried out by the
subject, with the use of prior knowledge in an
area of knowledge to manage, collect,
organize, process and interpret and validate
health information".3 Which It enables
decision-making to solve problems in the
health sector. They also offer updated,
truthful, comprehensive and timely health
information, which allows decision-making to
face the pandemic.
The SIS become a transforming agent in the
pandemic scenario. The interpretation of the
health information that is processed in them is
useful for the diagnosis, planning, evaluation,
comparison and monitoring of the health
situation of the individual, family and
community.
They constitute the key to adapting protocols,
planning health interventions and vaccination
against the virus. They support the execution
of integrated protocols for action against the
virus, as well as effective and efficient health
intervention actions, to achieve control of the
virus in the individual, the family and the
community with a health and inclusive
approach.
In the face of the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic,
it is necessary to give relevance to the SIS, and
apply this knowledge to current contexts. The
SIS, having a dynamic character, allow
evaluating and drawing up new strategies.
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It is a reality that the SIS allow the integration
and application of knowledge, process
information and keep up-to-date from science.
The health decision-makers of a given territory
must rely on the analysis of the health
situation for diagnosis and decision-making
based on the information that they will have
available.
The SIS are satisfied with the knowledge
acquired about a fact. They are in charge of
offering the information required by health
decision makers. Within the actions there is not
only collecting, organizing, processing,
tabulating; validate health information, but,
above all, the analysis and interpretation of
information through clinical epidemiological
indicators.
In this regard, the authors state that the SIS
have become a necessity, which is why it
should be claimed more than ever. They allow
us to visualize which public health policies have
been the most effective, when it comes to
controlling the spread of this disease. They
provide exceptional quality information for
decision makers, which favors the satisfaction
of the population.
The interpretation that the numerical data
resulting from the information that is
processed in the SIS for the diagnosis,
planning, evaluation, comparison and
monitoring of the health situation of the
individual, family and community, must
describe the objective reality. The message
must be clear, understandable, and explicit
between the sender and the receiver so that
their interpretation is efficient, effective, and
useful:
Health information must have the following
quality attributes:4
➢ Integrity: all information must be
complete with no omissions, complete, to be
processed in the SIS,
➢ veracity: the information must be
truthful, with a reduction in errors and be as
close to objective reality,
➢ reliability: it requires establishing
margins of errors or confidence intervals of the
data it offers,
➢ Opportunity: the information must be
on time to be processed in the SIS at any of
the three levels at which it is generated.
The analysis of the indicators in a critical and
reflective way, allows to carry out actions to
prevent environmental factors, related to the
pandemic, in a world that will no longer be the
same. Other important elements to win the
battle against the pandemic are health
promotion and education, the transformation
of health behaviors and lifestyles, the quality
of care in health services, and human biology.
They allow equity in health to be a reality, to
eliminate all differences and reduce those that
are avoidable and unfair. Ensure that no one is
disadvantaged in access to health services.
That all members of society can participate in
population health interventions, vaccination
against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. On the other
hand, the SIS support the immediate, agile
and coordinated exchange of data, the
prioritization of care, access and response.
Above all, to those in vulnerable situations.
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Equity and social justice, with logical reasoning
and critical judgment, allow decision-making to
have an effective and efficient focus on the
level of individual, family and community
health. Decisions that should not operate in
isolation, without a shared vision and
information or a coordinated attack plan.
Cofiño5 affirms that the importance of the place
where we are born and grow up, the way in
which we relate to each other and our living
conditions on our health is well known. The
health and well-being of individuals and
communities depend on the social,
environmental, economic, political, cultural,
educational, and geographic and health
circumstances of where they live. The unequal
distribution of these factors generates health
inequalities that can be avoided.
Cofiño's5 approach is related to social and
health determinants. The ability to process
information in health with the use of the SIS,
and the interpretation of the information, in
times of the SARS-CoV virus pandemic, allows
evaluating the influence of the determinants,
when planning interventions that have a broad
impact on improving individual and collective
well-being.
Authors such as Benjamin,6 and Ticona,7 in the
context of social and health determinants,
suggest that it is essential to focus on the
preparation of the health system with
community participation, to protect the health
of the entire society. The social and health
determinants according to Lalonde,8 are:
⮚ lifestyle: it is the determinant that most
influences health and the most modifiable
through health promotion or primary
prevention activities (drugs, sedentary
lifestyle, diet, stress, dangerous driving, poor
use of health services);
⮚ human biology: this determinant refers
to the genetic inheritance that is not usually
modifiable with the available medical
technology (constitution, genetic load,
development and aging);
⮚ health system: it is the determinant of
health that receives the most financial
resources to care for the health of the
population (misuse of resources, adverse
events caused by health care, excessive
waiting lists, bureaucratization of care);
⮚ environment: air, water, soil and
environmental pollution (physical, chemical,
biological, psychosocial and sociocultural).
Faced with the new reality, the battle against
the pandemic has led the world to a high
mortality of human lives. It has also had an
unfavorable impact on the economy and
society. It is necessary to achieve excellence in
services and the sustainability of health
systems that modify the health status of the
individual, family, community, population,
environment and society.
Amenares9 and Martin10 state that, during a
pandemic, more than in any other public health
situation, the SIS play a significant role. They
provide the necessary data and information at
the speed that the situation requires. Likewise,
they are the key to having evidence, making
the most informed decisions possible and
adapting policies that allow better intelligence
in health actions.
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Rev. CMV. 2023;1(1-3):e007 e-ISSN: 2958-9533 6
Decision makers must become aware of the
reality that exists in the pandemic stage, the
SIS is not a fad, or something that must be
done. By making decisions with the analysis
and interpretation of health information, they
have allowed the creation of tools to visualize
the spread of the virus in real time. Taking into
account that the SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates
and spreads very quickly, which makes it very
virulent and lethal.
It also implies a change in the mentality of the
entire decision-making process, by placing the
patient, family and community at the center of
the analysis, so that it is effective, efficient and
sustainable. It guides better management of
patient trajectories throughout the health
system.
The analysis of the SIS allows solid pillars to
be established on which:
▪ project the evaluation of the protocols
for diagnosis and treatment of the SARS-CoV-
2 virus. for patients, sick, suspects and
contacts;
▪ build and rebuild knowledge about the
pandemic, virus behavior and mutations;
▪ analyze the behavior of
sociodemographic, resource, and morbidity
and mortality variables and indicators;
▪ make predictions of the behavior of the
virus;
▪ plan, provide feedback, evaluate
programs and health services in the new
reality;
▪ strengthen action on social and health
determinants with an essential value of equity
in health;
▪ Execute measures on social
determinants with a health approach, for
decision-making on the health situation of
society (collective health situation analysis
process)
In this regard, the Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO)11 and the World Health
Organization (WHO)12 state that the SIS,
through timely access to disaggregated data,
allow the correct integration of national and
local systems. They provide identification,
reporting, case analysis, contacts; the search
and early detection of them. In addition, the
identification and monitoring of the population
at risk.
It is a reality that the SIS are strengthened
with the follow-up and monitoring platforms for
cases, contacts, quarantine and social
isolation. At the same time, these systems
guarantee the massive diffusion to the whole
society of communications on preventive
measures, impact on individual and collective
health.
In this context, several authors 13-15 refer to
the fact that the SIS play a relevant role today.
They contribute to the fight against the
pandemic, by introducing smarter solutions to
control the virus, with the integration of
information and the improvement of the
national response in terms of public health.
They register in the area the confirmed,
suspected, people under surveillance and
those with chronic conditions. All this requires
agile mechanisms to obtain information
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Rev. CMV. 2023;1(1-3):e007 e-ISSN: 2958-9533 7
efficiently. The results are presented with the
use of tables and figures for a better quality of
the exposition.
The relevance and realities of Health
Information Systems, in the face of the SARS-
CoV-2 virus pandemic, support the execution
of integrating protocols for action against the
virus. They are also useful in the design of
effective and efficient health intervention
actions, to achieve control of the virus in the
individual, the family and the community, with
a health and inclusive approach.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
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pandemias. Revista cubana de Tecnología de la
Salud[internet] 2021[citado 2022 dic
29];12(2): 147-154. Disponible en:
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2. Ventura JR edtal. Las Practicas
Profesionales y la Formación Laboral en la
Carrera Sistema de Información en Salud. Rev.
Actual. Investig. Educ [online]. 2015 [cited
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<http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sc
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47032015000300487&lng=en&nrm=iso>.
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informacionales con enfoque en Sistemas de
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2022 dic 29],11(1), 18-25. Disponible en http:
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el bienestar de nuestra comunidad: las
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FINANCING
No funding was received for the development
of this study.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
No conflicts of interest are declared.
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Article title: Health Information Systems, relevance and realities in the face of the SARS-
COV-2 virus pandemic
Author's name: Dayami Gutiérrez Vera
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