Author Archives: andreasilva

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Developments with CGDI/MoH for health information management

On August 5, a follow-up meeting was held for Agreement 13/Cooperation Agreement 95 (TA13/TC95) between BIREME/PAHO/WHO and the General Coordination of Documentation and Information of Brazil’s Ministry of Health (CGDI/SAA/SE/MS) in coordination with PAHO Brazil.

The purpose of the meeting was to present the technical and strategic advances of the first half of 2025 in the context of three Expected Results (ER) and to revisit the work plan, reaffirming the joint commitment to modernization, innovation, and strengthening of health information and knowledge management in Brazil.

Innovation in Technical and Scientific Information Sources (ER 1)

The consolidation of DeCS Finder AI was highlighted, a tool based on artificial intelligence that automatically suggests descriptors from the DeCS thesaurus (DeCS represents the acronym in Portuguese for Health Sciences Descriptors) for cataloging scientific documents. Currently in advanced testing, the solution is already integrated with systems such as FI-Admin and Annif, with a focus on streamlining indexing, ensuring greater standardization and quality of records, and supporting cooperating centers with small teams.

The planning of the use of natural language models for search services and narrative syntheses in the VHL was also highlighted. The so-called Super Abstracts, which offer short descriptions of documents, are already in use in 100% of the Mosaico database and 50% of LILACS, expanding the possibilities for easy access to information.

Another relevant advance was the start of the SOPHIA system data collection process, allowing for integrated updating of the Ministry of Health VHL indexes. At the same time, the BiblioSUS Network contributed 1,392 documents in just six months, reinforcing the expansion of bibliographic control of the scientific output of Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS).

Strengthening the Brazilian VHL Network (ER 2)

Within Brazil VHL Network, training activities advanced with 10 virtual meetings held, bringing together an average of 170 connections per session, with participation from 36 countries. Topics included document indexing according to the LILACS methodology, good editorial practices in scientific journals, and innovation in information products and services.

The Network’s documentary contribution was also significant: 715 new records were added to LILACS between January and July 2025, in addition to maintaining a total database of 1.191 million documents, of which 700,000 came from Brazil, with the active participation of 390 cooperating centers. The ColecionaSUS database totals 39,819 records from 124 cooperating centers.

Among the modernization actions, the launch of the new Ministry of Health VHL portal and the progress in updating the BiblioSUS Network and VHL Stations platforms stood out, in addition to the integration of Health Economics – ECOS VHL with a new collaborative interface. The registration update of cooperating libraries and centers reached 310 active institutions in 2025.

The National Meeting of the Brazil VHL Network is scheduled to take place in November 2025 with the XXIII National Seminar on University Libraries (SNBU 2025) in São Paulo, Brazil, which will also acknowledge LILACS 40th anniversary.

COVID-19 Pandemic Memorial Portal (ER 3)

The COVID-19 Pandemic Memorial Portal project has progressed steadily. Carried out in technical cooperation between BIREME, the Ministry of Health and experts, the portal aims to preserve and disseminate collections of documents, interviews and testimonials about the pandemic, transforming them into a space for memory, reflection, and collective learning.

Among the main results achieved are the definition of the scope, target audience, and governance model of the portal; the holding of strategic meetings and technical visits, including to the Public Archives of the State of São Paulo (APESP); and the initial mapping of the collections that will comprise the archive. In this process, guidelines for the curation and digital preservation of content were developed.

In the technological field, the installation and configuration of the Archivematica and Tainacan platforms stand out, which will be responsible for the preservation and publication of the portal’s content. The development of the website also advanced with the application of user-centered dynamics (UX Design), which resulted in an initial menu proposal, a low-fidelity conceptual prototype, and usability guidelines that will guide the thematic organization, navigation, and user experience.

Communication activities began to take shape with the dissemination of multilingual content, the integration of teams through collaborative channels and the publication of articles in BIREME’s Bulletin and other PAHO/WHO communication channels. These initiatives have increased the visibility of the project and strengthened the exchange of information and monitoring of progress by partner institutions.

Perspectives

At the end of the meeting, the teams acknowledged that progress was only possible thanks to ongoing dialogue and integrated work between BIREME, CGDI/Ministry of Health and experts. The expectation is that the second half of 2025 will be marked by new milestones in cooperation, consolidating both the modernization of information sources and the creation of innovative spaces for collective memory and network strengthening.

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2025/08/29/developments-with-cgdi-moh-for-health-information-management/

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Advances in the creation of the Indigenous Peoples VHL

In the month that celebrates the Indigenous Peoples’ International Day, BIREME/PAHO/WHO, in cooperation with the Especial Secretariat of Indigenous Health (SESAI/MS), continues the actions of the 93rd Technical Cooperation Agreement (TC93). The agreement seeks to promote the strengthening of information and knowledge management on indigenous health, with an emphasis on increasing transparency and disseminating scientific and technical content aimed at the native peoples of Brazil. This cooperation has established itself as a strategic milestone, supporting public policies, care practices, and research initiatives that directly impact the health of indigenous communities in Brazil.

Among the main expected results is the creation of the Virtual Health Library for Indigenous Peoples, a thematic instance of the VHL Model, currently under development, whose purpose is to gather, organize, and disseminate qualified information on indigenous health, including scientific and technical documents, reports, institutional publications, and reference materials related to the Indigenous Health Care Subsystem (SasiSUS). There are also plans to make Knowledge Showcases available for the easy dissemination of information on priority topics, and a SasiSUS Timeline, which will present milestones and historical moments of the Subsystem, contributing to the preservation of institutional memory and access to knowledge.

Among the advances already achieved, the indexing of strategic content selected and organized according to criteria of bibliographic governance and information management stands out. “This process included the analysis and systematization of reports, technical publications, and other documents produced in the field of indigenous health, ensuring their future availability in a standardized and easily accessible format,” highlights librarian Angélica de Paula, focal point of the project at BIREME. In addition, the initiative was designed to meet the needs of health teams working in the 34 Special Indigenous Health Districts (DSEI), who face the daily challenge of having up-to-date and reliable information to support their health care and management actions with indigenous communities.

The project also includes the organization of thematic collections, the construction of digital decision support resources, and the integration of different types of information sources, in order to consolidate the Indigenous Peoples VHL as a structured and reliable repository. In addition to systematizing the collection, collaborative processes are expected to be adopted to ensure the continuous updating of the portal and encourage the use of information by its different audiences. The official launch is scheduled for October 2025, when the VHL Portal and its collection of information sources, such as showcases, timelines, and the Memória SasiSUS database, will be publicly presented as reference spaces for the dissemination and use of information on indigenous health.

SESAI, through the General Coordination of Knowledge, Information, Evaluation, and Monitoring of Indigenous Health (CGCOIM), emphasized the importance of the partnership with BIREME, highlighting that this initiative strengthens access to qualified information on indigenous health. “For SESAI/CGCOIM, the creation of the Virtual Health Library of Indigenous Peoples is a historic milestone in the appreciation of traditional knowledge and the promotion of more effective and culturally sensitive public policies. Having its own Virtual Library represents for SESAI not only a space for memory and institutional record keeping, but also a platform that allows society to access the history and diversity of indigenous peoples. This collective action is considered strategic for increasing the visibility of health practices in indigenous territories and for consolidating the institutional memory of SESAI,” said Maial Paiakan Kaiapó, Coordinator of CGCOIM.

With this cooperation, SESAI and BIREME/PAHO/WHO reaffirm their commitment to contributing to health equity and expanding access to quality information, recognizing and valuing the cultural diversity and specificities of indigenous peoples in Brazil. The Indigenous Peoples VHL represents an important step toward giving greater visibility to the actions and strategies of SasiSUS, strengthening information as a fundamental input for decision-making, knowledge production, and guaranteeing the right to health for these populations.

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2025/08/29/advances-in-the-creation-of-the-indigenous-peoples-vhl/

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WHO publication highlights the use of AI in Traditional Medicine

A recent publication by the World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), highlights the emerging use of artificial intelligence (AI) in traditional health practices around the world. Entitled “Mapping the application of artificial intelligence in traditional medicine: technical brief” (July 11, 2025), the document recognizes the contribution of BIREME/PAHO/WHO by mentioning the Virtual Health Library on Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicines in the Americas (TCIM Americas VHL) as a reference for the application of AI aimed at the management and dissemination of technical and scientific knowledge in the area.

Developed and coordinated by BIREME with support from the Brazilian Ministry of Health and the TCIM Americas Network, TCIM Americas VHL is a regional platform that brings together scientific, educational, and technical content on traditional and integrative health practices, such as Ayurveda, herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, indigenous practices, among others. According to the new WHO document, the use of AI in the library has been used to speed up the bibliographic description process and facilitate the identification of relevant terms, contributing to the improvement of information organization and retrieval.

Regional model for innovation in digital libraries

BIREME has updated its institutional mission based on technological innovation and digital transformation, as defined in its 2023-2025 Strategy. The virtual libraries developed through the Center’s technical cooperation have used AI-based tools and methodologies such as DeCS and LILACS flows to expand the reach and usability of traditional health knowledge, which has been a hallmark of BIREME throughout its history.

The mention of BIREME in the WHO technical publication comes amid a series of institutional initiatives that have been promoting the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence in the context of public health and traditional medicines, such as the series of explanatory webinars on the topic, held under the Program for Strengthening Health Information Networks in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2025, BIREME actively participated in the Regional Consultation for Prioritizing Research in TCIM promoted by PAHO and in the construction of the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Library, also cited as a reference in the document.

AI as an ally for equity in access to information

The WHO technical publication draws attention to the potential of AI in advancing traditional health practices — especially in preserving ancestral knowledge, expanding access to information, supporting clinical decision-making, and designing evidence-based public policies. At the same time, it warns of challenges such as complying with data sovereignty, protection against biopiracy, and strengthening digital infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries.

BIREME’s experience with the TCIM Americas VHL shows that it is possible to integrate technological innovation and the valuing of traditional knowledge in an ethical, sustainable, and collaborative manner, in line with the guidelines of the WHO Strategy for TCIM and the principles of digital transformation of health systems.

Other BIREME initiatives with AI for traditional medicine

Besides the TCIM Americas VHL, other initiatives coordinated by BIREME have also been applying artificial intelligence to the management and dissemination of knowledge about traditional medicines. Among them, the Center’s work in developing and curating the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Library (TMGL) stands out.

In the first half of 2025, TMGL implemented TMGL GPT Modeler, an AI-based conversational assistant that is already incorporated into the platform’s homepage. This deliverable directly responds to TMGL’s fundamental purpose: to offer an innovative digital environment that preserves, values, and articulates traditional, complementary, indigenous, and ancestral knowledge into global public health.

According to Mirelys Puerta Díaz, BIREME librarian and TMGL manager, the implementation of the GPT assistant reflects the product’s commitment to education, accessibility, and multi-epistemic dialogue, allowing users to explore complex content with natural language support in an intuitive way, without interrupting their navigation on the platform.

The initiative, conceptualized and coordinated by BIREME Director João Paulo Souza, was integrated last May with a focus on usability, digital inclusion, and alignment with the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034 and the Gujarat Declaration. The resource contributes to transforming TMGL into a digital meeting point between knowledge systems, supporting policymakers, researchers, health professionals and communities.

At the same time, during the last semester, the automated generation of thematic Super Abstracts of bibliographic records was consolidated under the technical leadership of Francisco Barbosa Junior, BIREME’s Artificial Intelligence specialist. Currently, 677 records with Super Abstracts from the LILACS and TCIM databases are available, accessible via TMGL’s “integrated search interface” (IAHx) application. This functionality accelerates and improves the search and understanding of complex content in traditional health, contributing to a more intelligent TMGL that is accessible and meets the user’s needs.

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2025/08/29/who-publication-highlights-the-use-of-ai-in-traditional-medicine/

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Projects cooperate to SUS’ digital transformation

The first half of 2025 marked a period of progress for three strategic initiatives developed under the TC157 technical cooperation agreement, led by BIREME/PAHO/WHO in partnership with the Secretariat of Information and Digital Health (SEIDIGI/MS): Brazil’s Unified Health System – SUS Digital Platform; Decision Aids; and Second Formative Opinion. These actions combine technological innovation, participatory methodologies, and service integration that contribute to SUS’ digital transformation.

SUS Digital Platform

The development of the SUS Digital Platform has advanced in terms of its design and structure, represented in a prototype, which was submitted to a usability survey with participants at the 38th Congress of the National Council of Municipal Health Secretariats (CONASEMS), held in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, with a view to aligning user expectations and needs.

Moreover, a workshop was held on July 23rd to design the flows and processes for building and updating the Platform’s sections. This workshop also reviewed the architecture, design, and language of the texts presenting the Platform’s products and sections based on the prototype.

With the collaboration of the SEIDIGI teams, an inventory of products, services, documents, and materials related to SUS Digital was initiated, which allowed for the definition of the taxonomy and configuration of the content management system for the Repository, which includes the description and indexing of different types of content (multimedia, publications, tools, apps, websites, educational resources, news, experience reports, etc.). The registration of 264 initiatives presented at the first Seminar on Digital Transformation at SUS, which took place in November 2024, was also initiated.

For the sections of the platform dedicated to highlighting experiences, reports, and perspectives of different actors in the health system – “SUS Transformation Stories” and “SUS Voices” – proof of concept and validation of templates is underway based on two pilot themes: Telehealth in the Maré Complex and Telehealth in indigenous and quilombola territories.

These initiatives reinforce the role of the SUS Digital Platform as a living space for valuing and sharing transformative digital practices in the Brazilian healthcare system, as well as being a major hub for actions, initiatives, networks, projects, products, and services related to the SUS Digital Program.

“There is a large collection of data, documents, and experiences available to be transformed into indexed content and made available on the SUS Digital Platform, contributing not only to communication and dissemination, but also to the recording and preservation of history, as well as to expanding access to and use of telehealth services by the most vulnerable populations in Brazil,” stated Verônica Abdala, Information Products and Services Manager, who leads the project at BIREME.

Figures from the online plataform prototype.

Decision Aids Tools

Those are tools that assist in health decision-making, enabling health users and care providers to make informed and shared decisions. The project for the development of Decision Aids (DA) within SUS has made significant progress, such as its institutional structuring, methodological definition, and the collaborative building of the first DA prototypes.

The Steering Committee and the Scientific and Technical Committee were formed, national and international exchanges were held, and the mapping of existing DAs was completed. The first version of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was also drafted, and frameworks were developed to guide the creation of prototypes.

Four DAs prototypes were developed collaboratively, involving the definition of thematic areas, the formation of teams of specialists, the conduct of searches for systematic review, and the conduct of interviews and focus groups with users of the health system and services.

The themes include contraceptive methods for adult women; contraceptive methods for adolescents; hormone replacement therapy during menopause; and childbirth methods. The prototypes, consolidated in PDF format, are in the final stages of review for the application of the “alpha test” – a stage that will assess the clarity, comprehensibility, and feasibility of using the DAs, both from the perspective of patients and health professionals.

In July, the second co-creation workshop was held in Brasilia to consolidate the DAs, bringing together experts, managers, and representatives of social movements. The meeting validated the methodology, structure, and scientific basis of the DAs, in addition to defining the planning for the alpha test. At the same time, progress was made in the creation of the DA Portal, which will be integrated into the SUS Digital Platform, expanding the reach, usability, and visibility of the product.

Figures from preliminary versions of the portal and decision aid tools.

Second Formative Opinion

The Second Formative Opinion (SOF) project has made significant progress, consolidating strategic and institutional steps to update the service. A Steering Committee was formed, requirements were surveyed, and the first version of the SOF management system was developed on a provisional platform (REDCap). The SOF template and workflow were reviewed and updated, and a concept test involving six telehealth centers and thirteen professionals was conducted.

A co-creation workshop was also held for the new SOF, focused on defining operational processes and migrating the database with more than 1,700 SOFs to the REDCap system, with the submission, review, and publication features already implemented. Version 2 of the management system (SOFNet) and the new SOF portal integrated with the SUS Digital Platform are under development, in addition to the creation of a prototype interface for integration with instant messaging applications.

The next steps include defining the SOF production flow with different entry routes and expanding the network of collaborators for the creation, review, and updating of SOFs, as well as making version 2.0 of the system available, with full functionality.

Figures from the provisional system and the prototype of the new version (SOFNet).

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2025/08/29/projects-cooperate-to-sus-digital-transformation/

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Webinars for the Health Information Networks in the Region

Health Information Networks are essential to strengthen and expand the work carried out by BIREME on behalf of the Virtual Health Library (VHL), the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) database, the multilingual thesaurus Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS), and all sources of information that contribute to the democratization of access and visibility of scientific knowledge in health in Latin American and Caribbean (LA&C) countries.

The Program Strengthening Health Information Networks in LA&C aims to foster the exchange of experiences, disseminate good practices, and promote innovation in management and use of health information. Held regularly since 2020, this year’s schedule of meetings includes 26 sessions organized around four thematic areas: Good practices in the editorial processes of LILACS journals; Innovation in information products and services; Indexing of documents according to the LILACS Methodology; and Access and use of information.

Since 2024, the program has included sessions specifically dedicated to Caribbean countries that have English as their official language, with four sessions held in coordination with the MedCarib Network. Another highlight of this year’s program is the celebration of LILACS’ 40th anniversary, with an event to be held on October 30.

First 14 sessions: innovation, ethics, and artificial intelligence

To date, 14 webinars have been held, with a total of 2,537 participants from 36 countries and an average of 181 participants. The sessions brought together experts, scientific editors, librarians, and researchers from different countries. The debates ranged from the technical fundamentals of thematic indexing to the ethical and practical challenges of using artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare.

Among the topics covered, the following stood out:

  • Innovation in information products and services: DeCS 2025 releases and updates, new features of tools such as DeCS Finder AI and Super Abstracts, as well as discussions on the strategic role of the VHL.
  • Ethics and editorial integrity: sessions on retraction, prevention of predatory practices, and lessons learned from the editorial management of scientific journals.
  • Document indexing: fundamentals, methodological updates, and the use of AI to improve the organization of scientific information.
  • AI application in health: reflections on ethics, efficiency, and responsibility in the use of algorithms in research, library services, and systematic reviews.

The activities were attended by guest experts from countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, as well as representatives from BIREME/PAHO/WHO itself. In total, 19 speakers shared their experiences and perspectives throughout the webinars. Below, the charts show the number of participants per session and the distribution of participants by country.

Schedule through December and access to recordings

The agenda continues through the end of 2025 with 11 more sessions planned, deepening reflection on the four thematic areas. The activities will continue to bring together strategic actors from regional networks, strengthening technical cooperation and the circulation of health knowledge.

The recordings and presentations of the guest speakers are available on the VHL Network Portal. For those who missed a session or wish to review the presentations, all recordings are available in a playlist on the PAHOTV channel on YouTube.

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2025/08/29/webinars-for-the-health-information-networks-in-the-region/
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Panel highlights human and institutional capital

BIREME’s digital transformation is now also illustrated on its entrance panel: to celebrate the trajectory and new directions of the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (BIREME/PAHO/WHO), the entrance hall has gained a new institutional panel.

The artwork, the result of a collaborative process with leaders and teams, highlights BIREME’s digital evolution and its mission to promote equitable access to technical and scientific information on health. More than just an illustrative panel, the installation transforms the physical space into a point of contact with the Center’s history, achievements, and future prospects.

Inaugurated in June 2025, the launch ceremony was held with the participation of BIREME’s team and led by Director João Paulo Souza, with the participation of Geetha Krishnan Pillai, head of the World Health Organization Global Traditional Medicine Centre (WHO GTMC) Research and Evidence Unit, who was attending a PAHO event in São Paulo at the time, and Sebastián García Saisó, director of the Department of Evidence and Intelligence for Health Action (EIH), via remote connection.

Graphic design highlights people, products, and partnerships

The new panel gives unprecedented prominence to the products and services developed by BIREME throughout its history. A central timeline highlights milestones such as the creation of the Virtual Health Library (VHL), the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS), and other information resources developed for application in health, highlighting how technological evolution and digital transformation permeate the history of developments and initiatives of the Center.

The graphic design also highlights the people and teams who build BIREME’s legacy on a daily basis, represented in collective photos of the team over the decades. “It is a tribute to the dedication of the professionals who make the Center’s mission possible,” emphasized the director.

Another important highlight is the network of institutional partners and associates. With their names in a word cloud, national, international, and regional organizations are honored, communicating the diversity and magnitude of technical cooperation. This space highlights the value that networking has for BIREME and the relevance of the collaborative work developed over the decades with hundreds of institutions. “These are institutions that, together with BIREME, build a series of innovative solutions to support knowledge translation into health practices”.

BIREME’s panel therefore cooperates with the engagement of its staff and institutional partners when they recognize themselves in the ongoing process of implementing BIREME’s mission over its 58 years in favor of access to health information, mentioned Silvia de Valentin, the Center’s Administrator.

Technological evolution in the spotlight

The new panel was designed to communicate multiple layers of meaning, integrating BIREME’s history—through its information products and services—with the evolution of technologies specific to this field:

  • Timeline of products and services: from the creation of BIREME in 1967 to the latest digital innovations, the institutional trajectory is marked by pioneering launches and advances in favor of access to information. The future is also represented in the visual composition, indicating that the information resources produced by the Center will continue to be guided by the agendas of health and sustainable human development, in its major milestones projected for the years 2030, 2040, and 2050.
  • Evolution of information and communication technologies: graphic elements such as telephones, computers, digital networks, and connected hexagons illustrate the transformation of information and communication media and platforms, from libraries of printed and analog content to the most contemporary digital resources.
  • Institutional mission: BIREME’s mission is also included in the graphic design, with a text that was selected by the entire team as the most representative of its work: “Promoting health by facilitating access to and use of scientific and technical information for action in health.”
  • Tribute to the team: two historical photographs of employees were selected to illustrate and highlight the human dimension. On the left, you can see a record made at the former BIREME headquarters in the 2000s; and on the right, the team in 2023, already in the current office, with the presence of Dr. Jarbas Barbosa during his first visit to São Paulo as Director of Pan American Health Organization.
  • Partners and regional presence: a map highlights BIREME’s activities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, reflecting the regional scope of its actions. Institutional partners and associates are featured prominently, highlighting the recognition of joint work and technical cooperation.

An experience for staff and visitors

The panel in the entrance hall not only celebrates the past and present, but also invites visitors, partners, and staff to experience BIREME’s innovative spirit. Through images and words, it expresses the ongoing commitment to regional cooperation and the promotion of access to scientific and technical information on health. Thus, everyone who enters the BIREME office finds an invitation to institutional memory, historical recognition, and the collective construction of a future designed to continue toward universal access to health information. “This panel translates into images what we are in essence: a community committed to innovation, networking, and the mission of expanding access to health information. It celebrates our history and projects our future,” concludes the director.

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2025/07/31/bireme-panel-highlights-its-human-and-institutional-capital/

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Main results of BIREME in the 1st. semester

The first semester of 2025 was marked by important results for BIREME/PAHO/WHO, within the framework of its 2024–2025 Biennial Work Plan and in alignment with its 2023–2025 Strategy, which is focused on digital transformation, innovation, and institutional strengthening. BIREME continued to support the countries of the Region through information products and services aimed at knowledge management and evidence-based health decision-making, by means of the ongoing operation of the Virtual Health Library (VHL), cooperation with regional networks such as LILACS and WHO centers, and the incorporation of artificial intelligence-based solutions and new initiatives in digital health and equity.

  1. The regional portal of the Virtual Health Library (VHL) continued operating regularly, offering access to a broad collection of over 50 information sources and approximately 40 million scientific and technical documents. In the first half of 2025, 14.8 million access sessions were recorded in the Regional VHL, originated from 9.5 million users, generating 124.2 million events—32.6 million page views, 13.4 million search results views, and 365,000 full-text downloads.
  2. The Literature on Health Sciences in Latin America and the Caribbean (LILACS) celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025 with a collection of over 1.12 million document records from 30 LA&C countries, 62% of which have links to the full text. LILACS was updated with more than 15,000 new records in the first half of the year, with contributions from 200 cooperating centers in 18 countries. The LILACS Brazil 2025 journal evaluation and selection process began with 28 journals, of which 5 remain under evaluation. The LILACS Plus collection, which includes content from LILACS and the region’s national and thematic databases, as well as publications by countries and authors from Latin America and the Caribbean indexed in MEDLINE, is available on the VHL Regional Portal and brings together more than 3 million documents, improving the visibility of the region’s scientific production. The study “Profile of Journals Indexed in LILACS” 2025 is being updated and will be published on the LILACS Portal with data from 934 journals from 19 countries. This initiative supports strategic actions to train editors, update indexing criteria, promote good editorial practices, and make technical and operational improvements at LILACS.
  3. The 2025 edition of DeCS added 206 new descriptors, 192 from MeSH and 14 exclusives to DeCS. The collaboration of working groups in updating thematic areas such as Nursing and Homeopathy is noteworthy. The review of the Homeopathy category was completed, reorganizing its hierarchy. The DeCS/MeSH portal and the DeCS Finder AI service recorded approximately 9.9 million access sessions by 1.2 million users, generating more than 36 million events (page views, search result views, and others). The DeCS Finder AI service was updated, expanding the knowledge base for training and implementing descriptor suggestions for AI-assisted indexing in FI-Admin.
  4. In 2025, efforts to strengthen collaborative work and expand the VHL network in the LA&C region continued. In the first half of the year, 10 meetings were held, averaging 170 connections from 36 countries, on the topics of information access and use, document indexing according to the LILACS methodology, best practices in the editorial processes of LILACS scientific journals, and innovation in VHL products and services.
  5. Technical cooperation at global level in coordination with the WHO: (i) ongoing development and operation of the Global Index Medicus (GIM), an information product that integrates regional scientific production from all WHO regions (WHO Regional Offices operate the GIM, which has a database with over 2 million records); (ii) operation of the AFRO/WHO Index Medicus on the VHL technology platform; and (iii) development of the Global Library of Traditional Medicine (beta version 0.2) in cooperation with the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine. The development of the Traditional Medicine Global Library (TMGL) has advanced with the implementation of the beta version, which includes the global portal, six regional portals, 194 country pages, and two thematic pages: Ayurveda and Traditional Midwifery. The TMGL collection includes collections of scientific and technical documents (+1.7 million), multimedia, journals, evidence maps, repositories and, bibliographic, policies and regulations databases and the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit collection. Artificial intelligence-based innovations, such as the TMGL GPT model, are also being implemented in TMGL. The TMGL launch is planned for December at the second Traditional Medicine Global Summit.
  6. In collaboration with the Science for Impact unit, the GRADE Guidelines and Recommendations portal is in regular operation and is updated on the VHL. The portal includes BIGG (International GRADE Guidelines Database), BIGG-REC (GRADE Recommendations for SDG-3), and BIGG-Map (Evidence Maps based on GRADE recommendations), as well as the Evidence-Informed Policies (PIE) database and the Evid@Easy (guided evidence search) tool. These products facilitate access to resources that support clinical and public health decision-making, produced by WHO, PAHO, and other national and international institutions that follow the GRADE approach. Furthermore, the development of the graphical tool for creating algorithms based on clinical guidelines and recommendations continued.
  7. By June 2025, the evidence mapping methodology offered by BIREME was applied in the development and publication of four new evidence maps: Interculturality in Health, Family Constellation, Cancer Prevention in the population over 15 years of age, and Ayurveda. Other maps were updated and made available in the TMGL collection in English (Yoga, Meditation, Reflexology, Acupuncture, Cupping Therapy, and Shantala). The Evidence Map Portal (https://bvsalud.org/mapa-de-evidencias/) has 80 registered maps. A new plug-in for the Showcases of Knowledge is under development. Meanwhile, the Showcases of Knowledge portal (https://bvsalud.org/vitrinas/) remains available with 60 active showcases. During this period, eight showcases related to health commemorative dates were updated and three new ones were created: World Health Day 2025, Zoonosis Surveillance, and Primary Care.
  8. In collaboration with the Secretariat of Information and Digital Health of the Brazilian Ministry of Health (SEIDIGI/MS) and PWR BRA, BIREME is developing four products within the context of TC157 Digital Health: (i) A new program for the Second Formative Opinion (SOF) with the incorporation of digital technologies aimed at updating the collection of 1,700 SOFs, expanding production beyond SOFs originated from teleconsultations and PHC, and creating SOF derivatives for other media and formats; (ii) Decision Aids (AD) are interventions that support patients in healthcare decision-making by providing evidence-based information on options, benefits, and risks (four AD prototypes are undergoing review prior to user testing); (iii) SUS Digital Platform – development of an interactive portal integrating information, documents, tools, services, projects, and products related to the SUS Digital Program; and (iv) Information products to support the Interagency Health Information Network (RIPSA), including resources that integrate the RIPSA portal with the Indicator Management Module (MGDI).
  9. As part of the initiatives to incorporate artificial intelligence developments, important results were achieved this semester: (i) implementation of the Super Summaries service in the Mosaico database (Integrative Health); (ii) coverage of approximately 50% of the LILACS database with Super Summaries generated by large language models (LLM); and (iii) initiation of automated processing for inclusion of Super Summaries in new records in other databases, such as the BVS MS. Furthermore, criteria for sorting search results by relevance were defined, an essential step for the future implementation of Narrative Syntheses.
  10. In 2025, BIREME and the Special Secretariat for Indigenous Health (SESAI/MS) advanced the development of the Indigenous People VHL (IP VHL), selecting and including more than 450 relevant pieces of content on Indigenous people health, including scientific articles, videos, guidelines, courses, and experience reports. The IP VHL portal structure was designed with accessibility, cultural appreciation, and visibility of Indigenous experiences in mind. Two Showcases of Knowledge were also developed: Traditional Indigenous Medicines and Yanomami Health Emergency. These showcases bring together selected and contextualized content on these topics. Furthermore, a Timeline was created with the main historical and institutional milestones related to indigenous health in Brazil. The beta version of the portal will be launched in October, in celebration of SESAI’s 15th anniversary, bringing together in a single space qualified content that strengthens public policies and actions in indigenous health.

The results achieved during the semester reflect BIREME’s commitment to democratizing access to scientific and technical health information, in close collaboration with the countries of the Region and under the leadership of its Director, João Paulo Souza. As a specialized center of PAHO/WHO linked to the Department of Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health (EIH), BIREME counts on the strategic support of the Government of Brazil, through the Ministry of Health, and on the dedication of its technical and administrative staff to continue innovating, promoting network collaboration, and strengthening evidence-based public health policies.

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2025/07/31/bireme-main-results-of-the-first-semester-of-2025/

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VHL Network intensifies actions with countries

The first half of 2025 was marked by BIREME’s strategic action with countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region, with actions aimed at strengthening the national instances of the Virtual Health Library (VHL) network.

Through technical cooperation initiatives, actions ranged from updating content and technological platforms to reactivating committees, including the resumption of strategic and training projects, always with the aim of promoting equitable access to health scientific and technical information in the region.

Concrete advances were made in different countries:

  • The national VHL of Brazil, El Salvador, and Ecuador received support for reviewing the content of their portals and updated their technology platforms;
  • The Dominican Republic resumed activities and held the first meeting of its Advisory Committee, and LIDOCS – Dominican Literature in Health Sciences, the national database was created;
  • Venezuela and Guatemala are in the process of reactivating their VHL instances, with activities to resume the project and meetings with national focal points and with offices of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) in the country;
  • Costa Rica resumed the process of reviewing its portal and planning the launch; and
  • Argentina coordinated a series of actions aimed at supporting the BiViPsi VHL in psychoanalysis and psychology.

Also noteworthy is BIREME’s support to countries in the Caribbean region, with institutional participation in the ACURIL 2025 event and training on the Fi-Admin system, which was attended by eight member countries of CARPHA – the Caribbean Public Health Agency, reinforcing the countries’ commitment to the visibility of scientific and technical output throughout the region.

Beyond the Latin American and Caribbean region, Mozambique has also resumed activities to promote the visibility of its country’s scientific output, with a series of actions aimed at finalizing its portal and future launch, besides the creation of a thematic area for contributions to Multimedia and LIS (Internet Resources) sources and the creation of a database on legislation, RSDM.

Other relevant actions include 82 updates to the records of cooperating libraries (CL/LAC), creation of databases in FI-Admin (LIDOCS in the Dominican Republic and IPA in the United Kingdom), and support for updating information sources, among others.

Contribution to information sources

In the first half of 2025, contributions to databases totaled more than 20,000 new records in 60 bibliographic databases by 218 cooperating centers in 23 countries and more than 60,000 updated records by 324 cooperating centers in 23 countries.

The ten databases with the largest contributions can be seen in Table 1 below:

Creation of new records Curation and quality control
LILACS (AL&C) 14,878 LILACS (AL&C) 50,489
BDENF (Ibero-America) 1,509 BDENF (Ibero-America) 7,838
VetIndex (Brazil) 1,472 VetIndex (Brazil) 2,485
BBO (Brazil) 1,084 IndexPsi (LA&C) 2,038
Coleciona-SUS (Brazil) 758 BBO (Brazil) 1,750
RSDM (Mozambique) 663 CUMED (Cuba) 1,470
BiViPsi (Argentina) 657 Coleciona-SUS (Brazil) 1,441
IndexPsi (LA&C) 654 BINACIS (Argentina) 1,293
SES-SP (Brazil) 524 RSDM (Mozambique) 1,001
SMS-SP (Brazil) 422 SES-SP (Brazil) 886

 

Table 2 (below) shows the contribution by country, considering the creation of new records and the indexing and revision of records collected or created via the LILACS Express initiative.

Creation of new records Curation and quality control
Brazil (includes BIREME) 12,806 (61.2%) Brazil (includes BIREME) 36,153 (59.68%)
Cuba 1,215 Chile 12,639
Uruguay 1,182 Cuba 2,583
Colombia 1,179 Argentina 2,305
Mexico 993 Colombia 1,490
Argentina 850 Uruguay 1,241
Peru 715 Mozambique 1,008
Mozambique 673 Mexico 986
Chile 310 Peru 821
Bolivia 212 Bolivia 280
Venezuela 115 Costa Rica 143
El Salvador 106 El Salvador 132
Costa Rica 105 Dominican Rep. 120
Congo 103 Venezuela 118
Guatemala 77 Congo 107
Paraguay 64 Ecuador 97
Portugal 51 Guatemala 84
Honduras 51 Honduras 75
Panama 47 Portugal 73
Ecuador 47 Paraguay 71
Dominican Rep. 23 Panama 49
United States 5
Trinidad & Tobago 1

 

The result of all these initiatives converges toward BIREME’s strategic objective, which is to integrate national VHL instances into the Regional VHL Portal, which will feature a more inclusive and modern information architecture. Currently under development, the new structure will allow all countries in the VHL Network, even those without an active national portal, to have their space secured on the Regional Portal, thereby expanding the visibility of their scientific and technical production in health.

Meetings with the Network

In addition to specific actions with countries, BIREME coordinates the Strengthening Health Information Networks in Latin America and the Caribbean program throughout the year, promoting a series of webinars aimed at capacity building with the VHL, LILACS, and DeCS networks, contributing to the democratization of access and visibility of scientific knowledge in health in the countries of the region.

In the first half of 2025, 10 meetings were held, bringing together 1,290 connections from participants in 28 countries, who addressed topics such as the use of artificial intelligence, good practices in editorial processes, indexing, among others. The presentations were conducted by experts specially invited to participate and exchange knowledge with members of health information networks.

By investing in strengthening the VHL Network, BIREME reaffirms its role as a specialized center of PAHO/WHO in promoting equitable access to health information, contributing to the development of local capacities and the consolidation of the VHL as a collaborative, sustainable, and accessible tool that reflects the diversity and needs of health systems in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2025/07/31/vhl-network-bireme-intensifies-cooperation-activities-with-countries/

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SMS-SP VHL: Advancements and Perspectives

Project strengthens public health knowledge management in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil

The third phase of the technical cooperation project between the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), through BIREME, and the Municipal Health Secretariat of São Paulo, Brazil (SMS-SP), ended in the first half of 2025 with significant advances in the maintenance and innovation of the Virtual Health Library of the Municipal Health Secretariat of São Paulo (SMS-SP VHL). The period was marked by the delivery of the established goals on schedule, consolidating the VHL as a strategic tool for information management and decision support in the municipal Unified Health System (SUS).

Renovation and modernization of the SMS-SP VHL Portal

Among the noteworthy actions is the restructuring of the SMS-SP VHL portal, with improvements in its usability, information architecture and design. The changes were guided by the demands of the Municipal Health School (Escola Municipal da Saúde – EMS) team. New sections and content were proposed, such as the inclusion of two new information sources: Second Formative Opinion (Segunda Opinião Formativa) and the Wolters Kluwer Health Library, a digital platform that brings together educational and clinical content in various health specialties, thus expanding access to qualified and diversified content, strengthening scientific output, health decision support, and public policy formulation. The implementation of thematic areas to facilitate access to scientific and technical information was also discussed. Three priority areas were initially defined: Occupational Health, Educational Action, and Dermatology. In addition, the SMS-SP VHL Network section gives visibility to the collaboration network, strengthening institutional engagement, the legitimacy of the initiative, and the value of collaborative work in the production and dissemination of health information.

Strengthening the collaboration network and technical training

The actions carried out with the SMS-SP VHL collaboration network are another highlight of the semester. Meetings with governance bodies, such as the one held in February 2025, reinforced the strategic role of the VHL in valuing the scientific and technical production of the Secretariat. BIREME also participated in and supported the organization of the 1st Symposium “The Panorama of Health Education in the Municipality of São Paulo,” with lectures on artificial intelligence, research ethics, and new tools to support science.

The in-person training sessions held within the scope of the SMS-SP VHL involved several professionals from the technical areas of the SMS-SP, with a focus on strengthening information management skills. The training focused on the management and updating of the SMS-SP VHL databases. It addressed topics ranging from criteria for document selection to the use of the FI-Admin platform for the registration and publication of different types of materials, such as technical reports, scientific articles, papers presented at conferences, legislation, and multimedia content. A specific workshop on experience reports reinforced the value of sharing good practices in public health as a way to increase the visibility of successful actions in the municipality. The workshop on Windows of Knowledge aimed at training participants in the curation and thematic organization of content, promoting the dissemination of information aligned with local health priorities.

BIREME and SMS-SP teams in Symposium: “O Panorama do Ensino em Saúde no Município de São Paulo – SMS-SP”

Experience reports and knowledge showcases increase visibility and access

During this period, eight new experience reports were finalized and published, covering topics ranging from regional planning to initiatives such as “Bat Day” and the history of COREMU. The entire process—from recording to editing and publication—was technically supported by BIREME’s team, with a focus on methodological standardization, editorial quality, and valuing experiences and the authors.

The Windows of Knowledge gained prominence in the last year of the project, becoming an important tool for valuing and increasing the visibility of the actions developed by the technical areas of SMS-SP. The growing interest of the teams resulted in the creation of new themes, leading to a workshop in April 2025 that trained professionals to develop and maintain Windows of Knowledge aligned with institutional priorities.

The Window of Knowledge on Primary Health Care was developed by BIREME within the scope of the project, in conjunction with experts on the topic, and presents the structure, programs, and guidelines of Primary Care in the municipality of São Paulo, aimed at health professionals and the general public, highlighting comprehensive care actions carried out by multidisciplinary teams in defined territories. Following the workshop, new Windows of Knowledge started to be developed by people from interested areas, also with the participation of specialists, such as those on Zoonosis Surveillance (WoK already published), COREME HSPM, and Pain Care Line, strengthening the local capacity for content curation and the dissemination of strategic information on public health.

Prospects for Phase IV: continuity, expansion, and internationalization

The conclusion of Phase III marks not only the end of a cycle with deliverables, expressed in the development and qualification of various health information products, but also paves the way for the renewal of the project through Phase IV, currently in progress with the Escola Municipal da Saúde. The new phase incorporates the prospect of internationalizing the actions of the SMS-SP VHL, with the proposal to integrate its successful experiences into regional knowledge networks, promoting technical exchange, expanding the international visibility of the Secretariat’s scientific output, and alignment with initiatives developed in other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2025/07/31/__trashed-2/

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WHO Traditional Medicine Global Library on TCIM event

The World Health Organization Traditional Medicine Global Library (WHO TMGL) was presented by João Paulo Souza, director of BIREME, as part of the program for the Regional Consultation for Prioritizing Research in Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM), held on June 11 and 12 in São Paulo, Brazil. The event was organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), through its Departments of Health Systems and Services (HSS) and Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity (DHE), and its Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (BIREME), together with the World Health Organization (WHO) through its Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC). The objective of the presentation was to provide historical context and present the current stage of development of TMGL, in order to promote constructive dialogue and gather comments and suggestions from participants for improvement.

In his presentation, João Paulo Souza contextualized the origin and political milestones that drove the creation of TMGL, highlighting the growing appreciation of traditional knowledge in international forums, such as the BRICS and G20 Summits, both held in 2023, in South Africa and India, respectively. “The recommendation to strengthen traditional practices, followed by a financial donation from the Indian government to the WHO, contributed to the consolidation of the project,” said João Paulo. The initiative was then developed in partnership with BIREME, leveraging the Center’s expertise in building digital libraries—especially the MTCI Americas VHL, which covers the same field.

Currently in the pre-beta phase, TMGL is being implemented in stages until it reaches version 1.0, which is scheduled for release in December 2025, to be held during the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicines in India. The platform includes a global portal, six regional portals, and 194 country pages, as well as a series of thematic collections—such as Ayurveda and Traditional Midwifery—and specialized tools such as the “Traditional Index Medicus” (TIM), an integrated index of scientific journals and periodicals focused on TCIM. With approximately 1.7 million documents already integrated, TMGL will also offer access to databases, scientific publications, digital repositories, evidence maps (developed in collaboration with CABSIN and other partners), and artificial intelligence resources aimed at expanding access for managers, health professionals, TCIM practitioners, and people interested in topics related to TCIM.

A central aspect of the presentation was the participatory methodological approach adopted by the project team. Souza highlighted the use of digital tools and interactive dynamics to collect suggestions during the event, enabling participants to contribute directly with their assessment and targeted feedback for the improvement of the library. “This strategy reaffirms TMGL’s vision as a living platform, built on dialogue with experts and users, and guided by a long-term commitment inspired by the 27-year history of the VHL,” stated the director. The image below captures some of the participants during the activities.

Based on the participants’ contributions, Mirelys Puerta Díaz, product manager and focal point at BIREME for the development of TMGL, synthesized the main suggestions brought by the group discussions:

  • Inclusion and accessibility: expanding translation resources and offering accessible formats and audiovisual materials, with culturally adapted interfaces for diverse audiences, including indigenous peoples and users with disabilities.
  • Transparency and content organization: establishing clear criteria for curation, categorization by medical systems and authorship, and implementing advanced search filters by topic, country, and document type.
  • Governance and social participation: creating representative editorial committees, participatory mechanisms for consultation and content validation with local stakeholders, and spaces for collaborative knowledge building.
  • Valuing local knowledge: promoting documentation of best practices, life stories, and community experiences in traditional health, with an emphasis on practical application and impact on public policies.
  • Sustainability and technical improvement: improving browsing experience, ensuring periodic updates, and developing financing and digital training strategies, especially aimed at contexts that are difficult to access.

Díaz adds that transparency components are already being incorporated into the current stage of product development through the agile approach of the Scrum framework, which has enabled incremental deliveries with a continuous focus on value and centered on user interest and experience. “By adopting this management methodology, we have enabled agile responses to emerging needs, ensuring that TMGL evolves in a structured way, based on active listening and co-creation with users, TCIM experts and stakeholders,” explained Mirelys.

The Regional Consultation for Prioritizing Research in TCIM in the Americas was held as part of a broader WHO initiative aimed at strengthening evidence-based practices in different regions of the world. The goal is to promote more effective integration of these practices into health systems, anchoring them in intercultural dialogue. In this context, TMGL stands out as one of the main pillars of the strategy, by offering a robust, inclusive digital environment that is sensitive to the plurality of knowledge and to the different policies related to traditional health globally.

Source: https://boletin.bireme.org/en/2025/06/30/who-traditional-medicine-global-library-on-tcim-event/