Discussion attended by the president of Saúde Digital Brasil, Carlos Pedrotti, addressed topics such as digital transformation in healthcare and how legal uncertainty and protectionism can hinder the sector's progress
With a vast amount of content in its program, the Healthcare Innovation Show (HIS), one of the largest and most important technology and innovation events in healthcare in Latin America, brought together experts to discuss innovation in healthcare. Carlos Pedrotti, president of Saúde Digital Brasil, was one of them. The executive participated in the panel “The rule is clear: the role of regulation in the advancement of digital healthcare in Brazil”, moderated by Luis Fernando Vieira Joaquim, from Deloitte, also with Paula Mateus, from Flip Saúde; and Ana Cândida Sammarco, from Mattos Filho Advogados.
One of the central points addressed by participants was how digital transformation has impacted and increased the efficiency of the healthcare sector, as well as the potential of regulation to boost or slow this process. Participants also spoke about the challenges and regulatory barriers in the sector, in addition to the roles of the market and technology in enabling data integration between institutions.
Pedrotti gave a brief historical overview of the emergence of telemedicine, mentioning how Brazil remained behind other countries in the world in terms of legislation, despite all the technological advances that were already available in the country. He also recalled that the pandemic awakened the need and boosted remote care, which led to the new regulations being designed.
“SDB and other entities have played an effective role in ensuring autonomy for both doctors and patients, as well as security in general. Today, digital health and interoperability are the foundation of the healthcare system. We must ensure not only the sustainability of the sector, but also its future, ensuring that freedom and autonomy are not obstructed by regulations that could limit investment in this sector.”
The executive added that users increasingly want uncomplicated access to healthcare and that technology is no longer a major obstacle to digital healthcare in Brazil. According to him, the obstacles lie in the operational processes and include regulatory issues such as the payment model, medical documentation and digital dispensing, lack of chain integration, and regulation involving software as a medical device, among other topics frequently discussed in the sector.
The topic of interoperability was also on the agenda. The panelists cited as an example of successful interoperable models that promoted by the financial sector, which, according to them, demonstrates, in practice, that open health, despite the long road ahead, it is possible, given the specificities and needs for changes and improvements in the health sector.
Despite the scenario still under construction, Pedrotti concluded on a positive note: “I am very proud of the result of all this mobilization of the market and entities to regulate telemedicine in December of last year. We managed to approve a principle-based law that is not obsolete. The next steps need to be guided by similar characteristics.”
