Rules of Procedure

IV REGIONAL CONGRESS ON HEALTH SCIENCES INFORMATION

Article 1^St - The IV Regional Congress on Health Sciences Information, promoted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) through the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information, BIREME/PAHO/WHO, in collaboration with Ministerio de Salud of Costa Rica and Caja Costarricence de Seguro Social / BINASSS, will be held at the Convention Center of Hotel Herradura, San Jose, Costa Rica, from 24^th to 27^th March 1998.

Article 2^nd - The central theme of the Congress is: Information Networking: bridge to the third millennium

The sub-themes are:

Virtual libraries

Health Sciences information: surfing towards the future

Trends on Medical Education

Electronic publications

Cyber librarian a curriculum for change

The role of information in the management and the health sector reform

Information platform for Health care delivering and management

Article 3^rd - Congress activities will be divided into: Conferences, Round Tables, Panels, Courses, Specialized Seminars, and Posters. An exhibition area and a demonstration room of data bases and multimedia products will be available.

The 6^th Meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Information System will be held prior to the Congress. These meetings will be restricted to members of the Technical Advisory Committees and of the Latin American and Caribbean System on Health Sciences Information and of the Brazilian Network, composed by representatives of Centers and Units of the System (NCC, PWR, PAHO Specialized Centers and Cooperating Centers of the Brazilian network).

The events mentioned above, are listed in the Program of the Congress.

Simultaneous interpretation in Portuguese, Spanish and English will be available at all Sessions of the Congress and at the 6^th Meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Information System. Except on Short Courses.

Article 4^th - Round Tables will be composed of Coordinator, BIREME representative or member of the System acting as Secretary and Speakers.

The schedule foreseen for opening and closing, as well as presentations and discussions at each Round Table will be strictly adhered to.

The Coordinator will have 5 to 10 minutes to set up the session, present the theme and close the Round Table. Speakers will have 30 minutes for their presentations.

At the end of interventions the floor will be open for discussions. Questions must be forwarded to the table in written form, with identification.

The Coordinator will:

a) open the Round Table and welcome participants;
b) convene and introduce speakers and other Round Table participants;
c) indicate theme and Rules of Procedure;
d) coordinate presentations and discussions;
e) close the Round Table.

Speakers will:

a) present papers, discuss the theme and answer questions;
b) deliver to the Rapporteur all material used during the Round Table;
c) present recommendations, when necessary.

The BIREME Representative or its designated member acting as Secretary will:
a) make notes on relevant issues to be considered along with the recommendations to the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Information System;
b) intervene, when necessary, to clarify points under discussion related to BIREME and/or the Regional System;
c) forward a summary of the recommendation proposals, if any, to the General Coordination and Drafting Committee;
d) receive and forward questions;
e) control the presentation time of each speaker and discussions, reminding the Coordinator of overtime;

Article 5^th - Panels will be composed of: Moderator, BIREME Representative or member of the System acting as Secretary and Panelists.

The schedule foreseen for opening and closing, as well as presentations and discussions at each Panel will be strictly observed.

The Moderator will have 20 minutes to set up and close the Panel. Speakers will have 30 minutes for their presentations.

After interventions the floor will be open for discussions. Questions must be forwarded to the table in written form, with identification.

The Moderator will:

a) open the Panel and welcome participants;
b) convene and introduce speakers and other Panel participants;
c) present the theme and the Rules of Procedure;
d) moderate presentations and discussions;
e) close the Panel.

Panelists will:

a) present papers, discuss the theme and answer questions;
b) deliver to the Rapporteur all material used during the Panel;
c) present recommendations, when necessary.

The BIREME Representative or its designated member acting as Secretary will:
a) make notes on relevant points for possible recommendations to the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Information System;
b) intervene, when necessary, to clarify points under discussion related to BIREME and/or the System under discussion.
c) forward a summary of proposals of recommendations to the General Coordination and Drafting Committee;
d) receive and forward questions;
e) control presentation time of each Panelist and discussions, reminding the Moderator of overtime;

Article 7^th - Posters will be presented in fixed panels (0,90m width X 2,10m height), that will be available at the Exhibition Area, at the main entrance of the Convention Hall.

Panels should be set up on March 24^th from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. or from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Authors will be responsible for dismounting posters before 6 p.m., March 27^th

Poster presentations will be held from March 25^th - 27^th from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from noon to 2:00 p.m. During presentation time, the presence of one of the authors will be required, to provide more information to interested observers.

The Posters must contain:

a) Title: written in capital letters, which size allows reading from 2m distance (about 2 inches);
b) Authorship: indicated below the title, in smaller letters, composed by the authors’ names, institution and country.
c) Contents: text, graphs, etc.

Informative material can be made available during Poster presentations.

Article 8^th - Two Plenary Sessions will be held: at the Opening Session of the Congress, when a Master Conference will be given, and at its Closure when conclusions and recommendations will be presented. Each Session will last approximately one hour and will have its own program.

Article 10^th - Courses will be given from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on 16^th, 17^th and 18^th, by BIREME staff and invited guests. The Program for Courses indicates time, language, duration and rooms where each course will be held.

Article 11^th - Besides Plenary Sessions, Round tables, Panels, the Congress will have pre-congress activities and meetings which are listed bellow:

Meeting of the Clearing House in Health Sector Reform, with specific agenda. The meeting will be held on March 22^nd from 4:00p.m. to 7:00p.m.

6^th Meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Information System. They will have their specific agendas and rules of procedures. Meetings will be held y in two Plenary Sessions: the First Plenary Session on March 23^rd and the Second Plenary Session on March 24^th , at the Convention Hall, Room La Paz.

These meetings will encompass working groups of the following sub-networks:

MedCarib Network; Oral Health Subsystem; Health Administration Subsystem - AdSAUDE; ADOLEC Project; Nursing Subsystem; Disasters Program; PAHO Documentation Centers and Specialized Centers

Article 12^th - An Exhibition with publications and information services used for transmission and dissemination of scientific and technologic information open from March 25^th from noon to 5:00 p.m. and March 26^th and 27^th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
at Convention Hall, Hotel Herradura.