Funded by the international organization Close de Gap and the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR), a considerable number of equipment was sent to the Centro de Biofísica Médica of the Universidad de Oriente to contribute to the work of the Eastern Medical Imaging Network.
The MSc. Henry Blanco Lores, leader of the Network, explained that 170 computers, 27 servers, and several printers and tablets were received. "All of this allows us to assemble the IMAGIS software solution in the hardware, essential for the visualization of clinical images, exchanging information inside and outside hospitals and archiving studies."
According to Blanco Lores, the Centro Nacional de Biofísica Médica has been developing the Medical Imaging Transmission, Storage and Visualization System since 1997, with successful tests in several hospital facilities in Santiago de Cuba and in others of the National Health System. "At the moment, Imagis has been optimized thanks to modern equipment such as angiographs, three-dimensional ultrasound, magnetic resonance of high fields, that have been received in Cuba. Therefore, the system has had to evolve to handle that new scenario"
The main objective of the Eastern Medical Imaging Network is to interconnect the 25 member hospitals, 5 of them in the capital and the rest located along the eastern provinces. In each member hospital, five stations and a server will be placed, depending on their characteristics and demands.
From this moment on, the installation of the Imagis hardware is started, along with the process of testing, subsequent installing in each hospital, and training computer and medical personnel who will administer and use it, Blanco Lores points out. "This must happen in the second half of 2017 and continue at the beginning of the next year. The most important hospitals in the eastern region of Cuba benefit from IMAGIS, for example: Maternity and Children’s Hospitals, Cardiocentres, and Oncology Hospitals. We hope to extend and benefit the whole country from the experiences gained from in the Eastern Network of Medical Imaging.
The Centro de Biofísica Médica was officially inaugurated by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz on February 10th, 1993. From that moment on, its mission has been to generate technologies and services that contribute to improving the medical health service. "Our purpose is to contribute to improving the medical service and particularly the imaging service which in turn tributes to other medical services within a hospital. Imagis is now available for tablets and mobile phones and with this system we spare the country thousands of dollars".
The equipment has been funded by Close de Gap and the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR), entities that collaborate directly with the Centro de Biofísica Médica of the Universidad de Oriente.
The equipment will benefit 25 hospitals throughout the country, 20 of them located in the eastern region of Cuba.
The MSc. Henry Blanco Lores, leader of the Eastern Medical Imaging Network, explained that according to the results of this stage, the goal is to extend the experience throughout the country. Photos: Adán Raúl Santana Arias.
Translator: Lilia Sans