A medical history or report of symptoms, and even a remote consultation, in rural communities can now be generated more easily using the Bitmec digital platformcreated by Guatemalans, and which was recently selected as the winner of the National Innovation Award (PNI) 2021.
The National Secretariat of Science and Technology (Senacite) presented the winners of the PNI, and the aforementioned digital tool was awarded for leading the technological entrepreneurship that develops health solutions using unique software and hardware in Latin America.
Both the telemedicine platform and the app and the biomedical devices that comprise it were created by professionals graduated from national universities, to ensure the health of Guatemalan children and adolescents.
“We have been recognized nationally and internationally, what enriches us is giving Guatemala credits in technology and startups that have an impact, not only economically but socially”, comments Lorena Chacón, co-founder of Bitmec.
This platform creates health solutions digitally, to facilitate access to primary health services. This includes medical devices that allow remote monitoring of children in the development and growth stage, mobile applications that integrate this information captured by devices to create a file.
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Bitmec has created a telemedicine cabin that has medical-grade devices that allow remote consultations in real time. This cabin incorporates sensors that measure parameters such as: blood oxygen level, blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, height and weight, Chacón said.
For the second year in a row, strategic collaboration was provided by the Ministry of Economy, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica ), the Technical Commission for Industry and the Technical Commission for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Winners by category
The PNI is an award that recognizes the efforts of innovative initiatives in the country in eight different categories.
- Industry: GUATonline, marketplace, with a payment system with decentralized logistics integrated into the platform.
- Business: Pulpey brings market information to small entrepreneurs, providing them with feedback on their products and trends.
- Entrepreneurship: TraeGuate, mobile application to share the vehicle.
- Developing: Kingo energy, 100 percent renewable electricity services.
- Education: Turn on, a disruptive education project that teaches concepts of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.
- Childhood and adolescence: Bitmec develops digital health solutions.
- Health: ALMA, Automated Medical Logistics assistant.
- Honorific mention in innovation in public management: CAN Project, disseminates information and provides advice in the culinary area, agriculture and nutrition.
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