New virtual course available: Cycle III on telehealth and telemedicine to strengthen capacities across the Region

New course from PAHO's Digital Literacy Program aimed at strengthening telehealth competencies and supporting digital transformation processes across the Region.

Washington, D.C., April 1, 2026 (PAHO) - The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), through the Unit of Information Systems and Digital Health and the Virtual Campus for Public Health (VCPH), announces the launch of Cycle III: Telehealth and Telemedicine, as part of the Digital Literacy Program in Health and its Learning Pathway.

This new cycle brings together the expertise of leading regional specialists -including Leonardo Rojas Mezarina, Luiz Ary Messina, and Fernando Plazzotta- and offers a flexible, self-paced learning experience designed to strengthen key capacities for advancing more accessible, integrated, and people-centered health systems.

Access Cycle III

A key tool to expand access and continuity of care

In the Region of the Americas, telehealth has become a fundamental strategy to expand access to health services, improve continuity of care, and reduce territorial and social gaps. At the same time, its implementation presents challenges related to connectivity, capacity building, sustainable financing, and the regulatory frameworks required to ensure quality of care, data protection, and patient safety in remote settings.

In this context, the cycle is aimed at health professionals across different levels of care, as well as specialists in digital health, telehealth, and health information systems. It also targets technical teams from ministries of health and service networks, professionals in education and research, and key stakeholders involved in the governance and evaluation of telehealth initiatives.

Cycle contents

Cycle III is structured around three main areas:

• Telehealth implementation models
• Strategic role of university networks
• Efficient and safe use of telehealth in health systems

The learning pathway is complemented by specialized readings, assessment activities, and open-access materials.

Course details

Cycle III - Telehealth and Telemedicine
Duration: 5 hours of self-paced learning
Modality: Certifiable virtual course
Platform: Virtual Campus for Public Health (VCPH)
Access: Access here

For PAHO/WHO personnel, completion of the course may count toward the required 80 hours of annual training.

About the Digital Literacy Program

Cycle III is part of PAHO's Digital Literacy Program in Health, an initiative aimed at strengthening digital competencies among health teams in the Region. Through the Certified Webinar Series, the program offers thematic cycles addressing strategic areas of digital transformation, with accessible, up-to-date, and evidence-based content.

Previous cycles on artificial intelligence in health remain available: