Category: VHL

Information management for priority policies in Brazil and the Region

With the aim of maintaining and strengthening the institutional relations of BIREME/PAHO/WHO with Federal Government agencies in the field of scientific and technical information on health, Director João Paulo Souza recently held exchanges, in particular with national counterparts from the Ministry of Health, one of the main institutional supporters of BIREME as PAHO/WHO Specialized Center […]

Access to information on non-communicable diseases

The urgent need to address the interplay between infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which together pose the greatest public health challenges in the Americas, was highlighted by  Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, at an event held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in 22nd of September 2025: At UNGA […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Scientific evidence, tools and practices to strengthen PHC

The seventh edition of the International Congress on Primary Health Care (VII CIAPS) was held in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, on May 1-3, 2025, bringing together more than 1,200 participants, including managers, professionals and researchers, around the theme “Innovative tools for qualifying Primary Health Care (PHC) and reducing maternal mortality”. Organized by the Center for Teaching, […]

#bireme58years – Digital Transformation, AI and Access to Information

March 2025 marks the 58th anniversary of BIREME – the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) – one of the longest-lived and most strategic institutions in the Region of the Americas. Founded in 1967 as the Regional Library of Medicine, BIREME maintains its original […]

The Way Forward for the Virtual Health Library After 27 Years

In March 2025, the Virtual Health Library (VHL) celebrates its 27th anniversary as a consolidated strategic model for health information management in Latin America and the Caribbean (LA&C). To celebrate the date, BIREME is reaffirming its commitment to the VHL Network by modernizing and integrating national instances into the VHL Regional Portal, promoting more equitable and […]

VHL and LILACS: the 2025 calendar of technical meetings is available

Two webinars characterized the launch of the 2025 Calendar of Meetings of Health Information Networks in Latin America and the Caribbean. The events also took place in the context of celebrations for the 58th anniversary of BIREME and the 27th anniversary of the Virtual Health Library (VHL), reinforcing the importance of regional cooperation to expand equitable access […]