International dialogue about innovation and regulation in digital health

The HCFMUSP Health Hackathon already took place for the second time. HCFMUSP is the main public hospital in Brazil and among the 250 best hospitals in the world.

The hackathon opened its stage with a question: How can telemedicine be advanced, on a national and international level? The Secretariat for the Brazilian-German Digital Dialogue organised a panel on this question to discuss how regulation and innovation can be balanced to enhance telemedicine.

Telemedicine in Brazil: Regulation, innovation and access

The panel “Telemedicine Synergies: Bridging Regulation, Innovation, and Access” first offered a concise view on how telemedicine is evolving in Brazil. Clarice Savastano, Leader in Digital Health at HCFMUSP, explained how digital tools can strengthen clinical practice when systems are designed to support everyday workflows.

Ernano Arrais from the Brazilian Ministry of Health’s Department for Digital Health (SEDIGI) described how regulatory reforms and digital strategies are being aligned to expand access to healthcare, especially in regions where specialised care is limited.

Luiz Messina from the Brazilian National Education and Research Network RNP added a wider perspective, highlighting the importance of academic networks and the growing partnerships with Lusophone countries, where shared language and established ties help accelerate digital health cooperation.

Collaboration as a pathway to progress in digital health

Together, their insights painted a clear picture: progress in telemedicine depends on strong governance, practical implementation and meaningful collaboration across institutions and borders.

The open discussion that followed touched on data governance, interoperability, user trust and the technical conditions needed for telemedicine to function reliably. Despite working in different contexts, participants converged on one point: digital health thrives when policy, technology and clinical practice move forward together.

The discussions event showed how much can be achieved when expertise is shared openly and institutions work towards common goals. They It helped clarify the steps needed to strengthen telemedicine as a practical, trusted and accessible part of healthcare.