Using Technology to Support Healthcare Access in the Northern Regions of Brazil – A Telemedicine-based Approach

  • Rafael Chiavegatto FPFtech
  • Rodrigo Braga FPFtech
  • Ueliton Rodrigues FPFtech
  • Ricardo Moura FPFtech
  • Evaldo Santos FPFtech
  • Willon Ferreira FPFtech
  • Eriky Rodrigues FPFtech

Resumo


Background: Access to primary healthcare services remains uneven in Brazil, particularly in the North region, where geographic distance, low medical density, and logistical constraints limit access to basic healthcare for remote communities. Aims: This paper presents a research and development project that aims to support communication between healthcare professionals and residents of remote communities in the North of Brazil through the use of telemedicine resources. Method: We conducted field visits and technical assessments in North communities to identify infrastructural, connectivity, and logistical constraints. Based on this analysis, we define aspects such as healthcare workflows, usage scenarios, and a telemedicine solution architecture, including a portable booth and a supporting digital platform. Results: We specified modules for vital signs collection, real-time video-based consultations, automatic transcription of medical consultations, and summary generation to support medical anamnesis. It also includes mechanisms for data security and privacy, as well as support for speech recognition and translation in indigenous languages. Conclusion: The current state of the project establishes a technical baseline that enables the implementation and evaluation of remote examinations and telemedicine consultations in real-world settings.

Referências

Garnelo, L., Lima, J. G., Rocha, E. S. C., and Herkrath, F. J. (2018). Access and coverage of primary health care for rural and urban populations in the northern region of brazil. Saúde em Debate, 42:81–99.

Lisboa, K. O., Hajjar, A. C., Sarmento, I. P., Sarmento, R. P., and Gonçalves, S. H. R. (2023). A história da telemedicina no brasil: desafios e vantagens. Saúde e Sociedade, 32:e210170pt.

Oliveira, L., Fracolli, L., and Araújo, S. (2023). Acesso à saúde: desafios, perspectivas, soluções e oportunidades na atenção primária à saúde. Pedro & João Editores.

Oliveira, T. d. S. and Pereira, A. M. M. (2024). Expressions of inequalities in access to health services in latin america: a scoping review. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 29:e04932024.

Scheffer, M. and et al. (2023). Demografia médica no brasil 2023. Technical Report Informe Técnico nº 01, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) and Associação Médica Brasileira (AMB), São Paulo, Brasil. Atualizado com dados do Censo Demográfico 2022 do IBGE.
Publicado
11/05/2026
CHIAVEGATTO, Rafael; BRAGA, Rodrigo; RODRIGUES, Ueliton; MOURA, Ricardo; SANTOS, Evaldo; FERREIRA, Willon; RODRIGUES, Eriky. Using Technology to Support Healthcare Access in the Northern Regions of Brazil – A Telemedicine-based Approach. In: CONGRESSO IBERO-AMERICANO EM ENGENHARIA DE SOFTWARE (CIBSE), 29. , 2026, Recife/PE. Anais [...]. Porto Alegre: Sociedade Brasileira de Computação, 2026 . p. 408-411.