[Role of the information systems and e-health in the COVID-19 pandemic. A call to action.]

Martín Fernández, Almudena

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak a pandemic, with the coronavirus disease spreading worryingly fast. In this context, information systems, digital health (electronic health, mobile health), the Internet of things, play a key role, since they can contribute to fight against COVID-19 by introducing smarter solutions to achieve a rapid control in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes the disease. However, these technologies need a solid regulatory framework that contributes to their implementation and integration in health systems, and to improve the national response in public health. In this context, coordination between administrations and the standardization and interoperability of information are necessary. Now is the time to establish the legal and knowledge bases so that everything that has been learned and advanced is integrated into health systems, promoting safe and evidence-based use.