In Belize, FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is beginning to make its mark on healthcare data exchange, albeit at a moderate pace. The usage of FHIR version R4 is notably prominent, receiving the highest usage score of 5, indicating its critical role in current healthcare data exchanges. Despite the absence of specific regulations mandating the use of FHIR standards, there's a positive outlook towards its adoption, with expectations for increased adoption in the coming years.

Rules and Support for FHIR

  • Health Data Exchange Rules: Currently, there are no regulations that specifically mandate the use of FHIR standards in Belize.
  • FHIR Requirements & Deadlines: Not applicable due to the lack of specific FHIR-related regulations.
  • Available Funding: The government's stance on funding for FHIR adoption is unclear, with responses indicating uncertainty.

National Setup

  • Standards Organization: PAHO and WHO are mentioned as the national organizations responsible for health data standards. PAHO, WHO
  • Implementation Guides: Belize is working on a base/core FHIR Implementation Guide, though it is still under development and no link was provided.
  • Terminology Services: A national FHIR terminology server is reported to be in production.

Active Use Cases

  • Local Implementations: The Belize Health Information System and the National Health Insurance system are noted use cases of FHIR in Belize.
  • International Standards Use: The "International Patient Summary" is specifically mentioned as being utilized.

Who's Using FHIR

  • Active Organizations: EHR system vendors and clinical registries are among the primary users of FHIR in Belize.
  • Reasons for Adoption:
    • Regulation and grants
    • Improving care workflows
    • Innovation

Success Stories and Challenges

  • Benefits: Improved access to information is cited as a clear benefit from FHIR implementation.
  • Real Examples: The Belize Health Information System and National Health Insurance system are highlighted as successful FHIR use cases.
  • Main Difficulties: Challenges include unclear regulations, lack of FHIR knowledge, and changes in political direction.
  • Future Plans: Not explicitly mentioned, though the focus on developing national FHIR standards and pilot projects suggest ongoing efforts.

Future Plans

  • Progress So Far: Belize has made more progress than expected in the last year regarding FHIR adoption.
  • Next Steps: The development of a national FHIR data model and new FHIR standards for more specific use cases are in the works.
  • Expected Changes: There's a strong anticipation of benefits from FHIR adoption in the coming years, including cost savings and enhanced care coordination.

Contributors

This report does not include names of contributors as permission to use their names was not granted.

The above summary is based on the answers to the State of FHIR Survey 2025, organized by Firely and HL7 International.