Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS)

The Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS) is a research and advocacy organization based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

IECS conducts rigorous, independent research on a wide range of health topics and provides technical assistance and capacity-building support to improve health policies and practices in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Official website: https://www.iecs.org.ar/

AI4GH project

The Center for the Implementation and Innovation of Health Policies (CIIPS) of IECS is leading the development of responsible AI solutions to improve access, care, and quality of sexual, reproductive, and maternal health services (SRMHS) in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The project aims to promote research, build a regional community of practice, disseminate AI solutions, and promote public policy implementation based on scalable AI solutions in SRMH, through the creation of a Center for Artificial Intelligence and Health for Latin America and the Caribbean (CLIAS).

Specific objectives

1. Promote research and documentation on the impact of AI on improving access and quality to SRMHS, through funding opportunities and capacity-building activities.
2. Develop a regional community of practice (CoP) composed of networks, institutions, and researchers to identify the best solutions and implementation strategies for AI solutions applied to SRMH;
3. Disseminate AI solutions through different information sources and communication channels.
4. Promote the implementation of public policies based on scalable AI solutions in SRMH. 

To achieve these objectives, CLIAS will provide financial and technical support for laboratory research projects, innovation, and scaling-up projects.

Additionally, CLIAS will generate knowledge and evidence to be disseminated in the regional and global community, linking different stakeholders in the public and private sector, to promote digital public goods and identify successful AI solutions.

This will create an opportunity for LMIC in the region to access adaptable, innovative, and affordable technologies.

Official web site: https://clias.iecs.org.ar/

Events 

The NatalIA

“ The project presented by Universidad Galileo in Guatemala proposes the creation of a software tool based on Artificial Intelligence that allows extracting fetal planes of interest to obstetrics professionals using ultrasonography (US) video sequences captured by local health providers who do not They have training to carry out US studies.

More information find it here.

From local success to global mass customization: How to create a recommendation system to transform a generic pedagogical experience in WhatsApp into a personalized hyper-scalable pedagogical chatbot of Sexual Reproductive Health, breaking the cycle of poverty

The project presented by Tirando x Colombia SAS BIC in Colombia consists of the development of a personalized and scalable chatbot that provides a personalized pedagogical experience through WhatsApp based on Artificial Intelligence to improve decision-making and guarantee access to contraceptive methods in the adolescent population.

More information find it here.

Strategy based on artificial intelligence to support safe decision making in adolescents and young people in the prevention of unwanted pregnancy

The project, presented by the Institute of Public Health of Colombia, is the development of a Conversational Virtual Assistant based on artificial intelligence aimed at preventing unwanted pregnancy in the adolescent population through an innovative education model that aims to modify cognitive aspects and gaps.

More information find it here.

Automatic detection of consultations to support sexual and reproductive health care for people with disabilities

The project, presented by the Interdisciplinary Center for Studies in Science, Technology, and Innovation (CIECTI) of Argentina, aims to develop a tool that allows identifying Sexual and Reproductive Health consultations of people with disabilities based on artificial intelligence models applied to Electronic Health Record (EHR) data, with special consideration for women.

More information find it here.

Feasibility study for the development of a remote and real-time diagnostic system for cytological samples of fixed cervicovaginal smears (PAPs) assisted by Artificial Intelligence

The project, presented by the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences (University of Buenos Aires) of Argentina, proposes the development of the first feasibility analysis on the use of Artificial Intelligence tools to assist in the medical diagnosis of cervical cancer and contribute to the access to health for the vulnerable population, based on national data.

More information find it here.

Artificial intelligence prototype for the diagnosis and management of preeclampsia within the framework of the Godfather Hospital Strategy for the reduction of maternal mortality in Colombia

The project, presented by the Valle del Lili Foundation of Colombia, aims to design tools supported by artificial intelligence to enhance the Padrino Hospital in the diagnosis and treatment of pathologies such as preeclampsia, especially in rural healthcare centers.

More information find it here.

Computational phenotypes of maternal morbidity using artificial intelligence methods

This project consists of the implementation of a computational phenotyping model of clinical records for maternal morbidity in pregnant women. In the first step, data from information systems will be used, and synthetic data will be generated based on a common data model (CDM) scheme. In the second step, artificial intelligence models will be developed and validated to define phenotypes related to maternal morbidity. This research will provide free access tools to improve the characterization of patients based on different maternal morbidity profiles using data from transactional health information systems, then allowing integration into clinical and population health decision-making processes. The project was presented by Netux in Colombia.

More information find it here.

Cintia Cejas BSc.

CLIAS - DIRECTOR

Political Scientist and Master in Social Sciences and Health. Specialist in health project management. Undersecretary of Public Health Coverage at the National Ministry of Health in Argentina (2017-2019). Coordinator of the Center for Implementation and Innovation in Health Policies (CIIPS-IECS).

Adolfo Rubinstein M.D., MSc., PhD.

CLIAS - SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COORDINATOR

Family Physician. Master in Clinical Epidemiology at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Diploma in Health Economy from the University of York, United Kingdom, Doctor in Public Health at the University of Buenos Aires, and Certificate of implementation of public policies at Harvard Kennedy School. BA. Dr. Rubinstein was the National Minister of Health of Argentina (2017-2019) and is the current Director of the Center for Implementation and Innovation in Health Policies (CIIPS-IECS).

Maisa Havela BSc.

CLIAS – MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR

Political scientist. Specialist in public management and assessment of public policies. Undersecretary of Technical Programming and Logistics and Strategic Planning Coordinator at the National Health Ministry in Argentina (2017-2019). Senior consultant in CIIPS-IECS.

Santiago Esteban M.D., MPH.

CLIAS - TECHNICAL CONSULTANT IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Family Physician. Master in Public Health with data orientation at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. Director of Information Management and Health Statistics in the City of Buenos Aires government. AI researcher at the intersection of epidemiology, public health, machine learning, causal inference, data science, and information systems at CIIPS-IECS.

Analía López M.D., MSc.

CLIAS - TECHNICAL CONSULTANT IN HEALTH SYSTEMS AND GENDER

Family Physician. Master’s Degree in Clinical and Health Effectiveness and Business Administration (MBA). Degree in Gender, Society and Policies. Chief of Cabinet at the National Ministry of Health (2017-2019). Senior implementation consultant in health policy, program and management innovation at CIIPS-IECS.

Alejandro López Osornio M.D.

CLIAS - TECHNICAL CONSULTANT IN INFORMATION HEALTH SYSTEMS AND INTEROPERABILITY

Family Physician. Specialist in Medical Informatics. Global referent in digital health and interoperability. Former National Director of Health Information Systems at the Argentina Ministry of Health (2017-2019). During the last 15 years, he has collaborated on a large number of digital health projects both in Argentina and in the world, contributing to international work teams on standards and interoperability, and acting as an advisor in the implementation of National Digital Health Agendas. Senior consultant at CIIPS-IECS.

Mabel Berrueta M.D., MSc.

CLIAS - TECHNICAL CONSULTANT IN MOTHER AND CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH

Pediatrician and Master in Epidemiology (University of Buenos Aires). Director of the Department of Mother and Child Health Research and Coordinator of the Statistics, Data management and Information Systems Unit at Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS). Faculty and thesis' tutor for the Program of Clinical Effectiveness, a master program of the University of Buenos Aires at IECS. Dr. Berrueta's work has contributed to the field of sexual and reproductive, maternal and perinatal health research.

Rosina Pace M.D., MSc.

CLIAS - TECHNICAL CONSULTANT IN BIOETHICS

Physician. Master in Bioethics. Coordinator of the Bioethics Center of the Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires (HIBA). Senior consultant at CIIPS-IECS.

Gabriela Perrotta BSc., MSc., PhD.

CLIAS - TECHNICAL CONSULTANT IN SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Ph.D. in Psychology. Former Technical Coordinator of Sexual and Reproductive Health Directorate, Ministry of Health of Argentina. Senior consultant at CIIPS-IECS.

Adrián Santoro BSc.

CLIAS - TECHNICAL CONSULTANT IN DATA ANALYSIS

Social and data scientist. Expert in programming and development of mathematical models. Master in Generation and Analysis of Statistical Information. Senior consultant at CIIPS-IECS.

Daniel Rizzato Lede M.D.

CLIAS - TECHNICAL CONSULTANT IN INFORMATION HEALTH SYSTEMS

Physician. Specialist in Internal Medicine and Medical Informatics. International Consultant for PAHO and temporary advisor to the World Health Organization on digital transformation topics. Senior consultant at CIIPS-IECS.

Sofía Landi M.D.

CLIAS - TECHNICAL CONSULTANT IN DIGITAL HEALTH

Physician. Specialist in Pediatrics and Health Informatics. Former Head of the Health Informatics Area of the British Hospital of Buenos Aires. Senior consultant at CIIPS-IECS.

Sofía Pirsch BSc.

CLIAS - RESEARCH FELLOW

Political scientist. Diploma in Advanced Studies in Gender, Culture, and Power and a master's degree in Political Science. Master's candidate in clinical and health effectiveness.

Denise Zavala BSc.

CLIAS - RESEARCH FELLOW

Psychologist. Health Policy Management in the Territory. Master's candidate in clinical effectiveness.

Martín Saban M.D.

CLIAS – RESEARCH FELLOW

Physician. Member of the Argentine Society of Pediatrics Information and Communication Technologies subcommittee. Master's candidate in clinical and health effectiveness.