Digital health and COVID-19 response: Scoping review of solutions developed and implemented by BRICS countries

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the state-of-the-art regarding digital health solutions for surveillance, prevention/control, and clinical management of COVID-19 in the BRICS countries. It is a scoping review guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Documents published between January 2020 and August 2022 were included from the MEDLINE/PubMed, Lilacs, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, as well as from the websites of the countries’ health ministries, the World Health Organization, and the BRICS Summits. In total, 481 documents were included, from which 900 mentions of digital solutions were extracted. Of these, 89% came from databases and 11% from other sources. China led in the number of solutions (47%), followed by India (30%) and Brazil (14%). Most solutions were subnational in coverage (53%) and publicly funded (52%), particularly in Brazil (71%) and Russia (68%). The main technology types were eHealth (72%), big data (32%), and artificial intelligence (30%). There was an emphasis on the use of digital solutions by data services for surveillance and by healthcare professionals for clinical management of COVID-19. The study revealed the main digital solutions developed and implemented by the countries, highlighting similarities and differences, and pointing to cooperation as a path to overcome common challenges.