On our final day of our trip, we visited the National Center for
Medical Sciences Information/INFOMED and the Virtual Public Health
University and Library. As part of the health care system in Cuba, it
was felt important to provide an online network of medical journals,
case studies, prescribing directory, and general reference for
physicians, nurses, and other technical medical personnel.
The National Information Center was actually founded in 1965. The
center was established to share information among all health care
professionals. This was accomplished with print until the 1990’s after
soviet funding was revoked. At this time it became very difficult to
print any materials. It was my understanding that Cuba went from fifteen
printed medical journals down to just two. It was at this time that the
government decided to take the digital direction. INFOMED was
introduced.
INFOMED was established as a portal network in all medical clinics
and facilities. Medical personnel can access at anytime for current
therapies, nursing procedures, medical treatments, and general
information. Information is listed by specialty. All information entered
into the system is reviewed and approved by medical specialists in each
particular area.
On the University level, PHD graduates can post their thesis onto the
network after review by the appropriate specialist in that clinical
area. Conferences are also posted onto the system. While conferences are
difficult to reach for some outlying areas, webinars can posted for
viewing from any computer for personnel with access. This includes the
physicians or nurses if they have internet access in the home or office.
ECIMED is another point of access through the system for statistical
data. This is information generally provided by the Institute for Public
Health. The reports generated with the statistical data, is then shared
on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis. Many of us were interested in
statistical reports when we visited the Institute for Public Health; the
information was shared with us in a booklet format. The same
information was noted as being available on the ECIMED system. One of
our presenters demonstrated this by showing us the same reports in the
digital format.
There are, of course, no American journals available on the system
due largely to the embargo that remains in place. The Canadians did have
a link that offered many different medical journals for viewing and use
as a resource. The Cuban medical journals are only available in Spanish
and only accessible by Cuban medical professionals.
If you would like to view INFOMED please go to the following website www.sld.cu.