Paraguay turns to Asia to speed up digital transformation of public sector

Paraguay is doubling down on its strategic alliances with Taiwan and South Korea for the digital transformation of its public sector, especially healthcare. 

Taiwan is providing a hospital information system (HIS) as part of a project to improve the country's health system.

In January-August, the HIS system registered nearly 3.15mn consultations and 7.62mn since it was deployed in 2017, according to Paraguayan ICT ministry MITIC. 

The system running in 140 health units and hospitals throughout the country, “streamlining and improving the quality of patient care processes,” said MITIC. 

HIS records the history of consultations, making it easier for health professionals to diagnose and treat patients, as well as to issue prescriptions and manage the stock of medicines and supplies.

It also enables workflow standardization, collection of data for real-time reports and better management control, the ministry said.

To expand the use of the platform in more health facilities, Paraguayan officials recently traveled to Taiwan for a new training program.

The health program also leverages on a technical partnership with Koica, the South Korean international cooperation agency, which is another partner of Paraguay in terms of financing and project development.

Koica is also supporting the construction of health facilities, such as a new surgery center in Yaguarón, a project that was recently submitted by the health ministry to the country’s technical planning department for approval. 

In May, Koica made available US$1.13mn for a new training center in capital Asunción for Paraguayan aviation professionals.

The same month saw Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA) sign a five-year cooperation agreement with the Korean agency to create a center with a focus on ICT innovation, at its San Lorenzo campus.

For this agreement, Koica will allocate US$9.60mn in non-reimbursable funds, with UNA providing US$1.4mn for the center’s operation and equipment.

OTHER PARTNERS

The HIS program relies on financing from the IDB and technical support from Itaipu, the Brazilian-Paraguayan binational hydro dam.

IDB's portfolio of loans for Paraguay amounts to more than US$3.27bn in 12 sectors. 

The multilateral has completed 719 financing projects in Paraguay. 

DIGITAL AGENDA

Most of the initiatives are part of Paraguay's digital agenda to boost ICT investments to support young people, entrepreneurs and companies.

The planned investment for this year is US$4.7mn for all of the agenda’s programs. 

The agenda is supported by IDB with US$130mn in funds.