Health professionals continue to search for a means that allows all hospitals to circulate information about patients. At the same time, there is a lack of “transparency”, as there is no known plan for the sector in this context, according to Joaquim Cunha, executive director of Health Cluster Portugal.
In an interview with DN, he begins by remembering that inefficiency with regard to hospital data systems is not exclusive to Portugal. However, understand that it is decisive that “a national strategy for health data” is implemented. So far, this possibility has not been envisaged, which is why the lack of “a strategic vision” stands out.
“Whoever is responsible for this will say that it exists, but I don’t know where it is”, says Joaquim Cunha. Consequently, the consequences are harmful for those who visit hospitals (regardless of whether they are public, private or social, but we’ll get to that). “If I, as a patient, go to the hospital and the doctor or nurse cannot see my medical history, we are in bad shape”warns the person in charge. “We are wasting time and duplicating exams, in some cases with dramatic situations.”
Information does not circulate between hospitals… even in the SNS
The circulation of data about patients (without violating data protection rules) is crucial to ensuring the proper functioning of healthcare in Portugal. However, it fails “between different hospitals and, as far as I am told, within some hospitals”. I.e, information “does not always flow in hospitals, does not flow in the SNS, nor from the SNS to private or social hospitals”he highlights.
Remember the situation that dates back to November of the pregnant woman who died and whose baby was born but would also end up dying. The case was associated with the lack of circulation of existing data about the woman and her pregnancy, insofar as the same been followed on SNS since July. Everything took place at Hospital Fernando da Fonseca and, at the time, led to the resignation of the president of the Board of Directors of ULS Amadora Sintra.
The health sector does not take advantage “in the best possible way the wealth of opportunities that technology gives us”in such a way that aspects that should be simple fail, highlights the executive director of Health Cluster Portugal. “When someone goes to a hospital, it is important that the person’s history (public, private or social) is available. This is obvious, but it fails… and there is no light at the end of the tunnel”, he laments.
Joaquim Cunha points out lack of “transparency”
The person responsible criticizes the operation of the Ministry of Health’s Shared Services (SPMS). Point out that estes sin due to “opacity” and reiterates the importance of this entity deciding on a deadline for interoperability to be put into practice.
“Where is a plan? Why is there no transparency?” These are questions that he would like to see answered. Furthermore, SPMS “competes with companies and, at the end of the day, I don’t think any money is saved”, he adds.