Connectivity Providers Database

From: Steve Huter <sghuter@igc.apc.org> To: randy@psg.com Date: Thu, 9 Mar 1995 23:22:13 -0800 /* Written 4:36 PM Mar 9, 1995 by jreardon in igc:reg.cuba */ /* ---------- "More on INFOMED: Cuba" ---------- */ ***************INFOMED******************** Infomed is the computer net of the National System of Health Information of the Ministry of Health in Cuba. It has been operational since 1992. Goals: To facilitate the exchange of electronic information in the field of medicine, biomedicine and health in general. Intends to facilitate linkages between professionals, academicians, researchers, functionaries and Public Health workers in general in Cuba and abroad. Linkages: Infomed is linked to the key nodules of the Cuban E-Mail Net and with the X.25 Net of the Cuban Academy of Sciences. For international e- mail it is connected to PeaceNet, allowing e-mail exchange with the world nets, including INTERNET and Satellife. With the exception of these international e-mail services, we lack direct connection with INTERNET. Users: Currently INFOMED provides services to users throughout the country with great possibilities of growth, only limited by the lack of equipment in the health institutions, given that the interest in the service health care workers is enormous. Up to now there are approximately 500 open accounts, 80% of which are of collective use in health institutions of Cuba. This makes the estimates of users harder to make. The amount of information traveling through the net is continuously increasing and currently the daily average is 14 MB. Services: Electronic Mail: Infomed allows users to send e-mail nationally and internationally. Discussion Groups: Lists of discussion groups are available, both with and without moderators. File Retrievals: Files available at the Net servers in public and private directories may be accessed and downloaded. Database Searches: Through e-mail bibliographical and reference searches can be requested from the National System of Health Information. Additionally, on-line consultation is available. Information : Users may subscribe to specific information services generated by the National Center of Medical Sciences Information (CNICM), such as health news, table of contents, electronic bulletins, and others. Other Services: . Consultation on development of computer net projects . Consultation on the installation of local and wide nets (Novell, Unix, etc) . Consultation on the acquisition of computer hardware, modems, and other communication hardware and software. . Consultation on the development and use of information services for electronic nets. . Consultation on the analysis and development of new information systems Goals for the near future: . Gopher . Distribution of new bulletins . Widen the discussion groups . Teaching courses through e-mail Examples of resources available through INFOMED: . MMWR (CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) . CANCER (Articles from ONCODISK CD) . BIPK (Epidemiological Bulletin from the Institute of Tropical Medicine) . DIARIA (Information Service on news relevant to medical/health field) . ANUARIO (ASCII files on Cuban Health Stats- 1993) . ACIMED (Publication on the National System of Medical Sciences Information) . CATCOL (Current Databases on the Catalog of Publications by CNICM) . FITOMED (Database on medicinal plants evaluated by the ministry of health) . NEURITIS (List for the dissemination of information on Neuritis) . LF (Books and brochures at the National Medical Library: 5,500 entries) . LILACS (Cuban medical literature database published in local journals/books; 6,000 entries. 50 new entries each month) . TE (Thesis of medical students and residents; 16,000 entries) UN Project: United Nations Development Program INFOMED is implementing a strengthening project with the support of the United Nations Development Program. The goals are to make the services of INFOMED more available to institutions and health professionals with the establishment of nodules in 13 medical schools in the country. With this effort the country wide net will be strengthen with 13 UNIX servers for e-mail and other services. This groups of dedicated servers will constitute the backbone of INFOMED are will permit the decentralization and expanded availability of the service. Any health institution with a terminal, a phone line and a modem will be able to communicate with the closest nodule and participate of the benefits of the national net. This project must be completed by the end of 1995 and it involves the equipment and the training of the staff. Currently there is only one INFOMED nodule, which is for the whole country, is located in La Habana and serves mostly users in this city and periphery. Once the project is completed we intend to extend to the provinces the experience accumulated in more than two years of services. Once the project is finished there will be a great capability at the national level to offer e-mail services and other services which will be under-utilized if the number of users is not increased. Terminals and modems are needed for institutions and clinics. For more information: contact- C N I C M =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dr. Jose Fco. Rodriguez Perez Centro Nacional de Informacion de Ciencias Medicas 27 # 110 e/ M y N. Vedado. CP 10400. Ciudad de La Habana. Cuba Telf:(537) 321991 Fax:(537) 333063 E-Mail: josefran@infomed.sld.cu =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= C N I C M For donations of computer terminals (XT's and anything better) and modems in the US for INFOMED e-mail: jreardon@igc.apc.org phone: (510) 926-0917