Government joins forces with UCY for antibiotic and infection surveillance platform

The Health Ministry's Medical and Public Health Services have entered an important collaboration with the University of Cyprus and the Centre of Excellence for Research and Innovation 'KOIOS' towards the development of the digital platform 'BIOCARE'.

The collaborations aims at creating a modern National Surveillance System for the consumption of antibiotics and the monitoring of hospital-acquired infections.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Health, this new initiative, which is part of the strategy to strengthen public health, includes the development of the BIOCARE digital platform, which will allow the efficient collection, analysis and exploitation of data in real time.

It is added that antimicrobial resistance and hospital-acquired infections are global challenges for health systems, affecting the treatment of infections and increasing the length of hospitalisation of patients.

As it is explained, the BIOCARE platform “will use advanced artificial intelligence and data analysis technologies, ensuring the recording and evaluation of antibiotic consumption, the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and the implementation of modern strategies to reduce hospital-acquired infections.”

Its operation will allow for early detection of trends and contribute to informed decision-making by health authorities, improving antibiotic management and enhancing infection prevention in the country's hospitals, the press release adds.

It is further pointed out that the implementation of the platform marks a decisive step towards the creation of a dynamic and innovative surveillance system, which will ensure the rational use of antibiotics, contribute to the reduction of hospital-acquired infections and enhance the overall operational readiness of the country's healthcare system.

(Source: CNA)