Assessment of the potential for the implementation of geographic information systems in the public health system of Ukraine
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NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF UKRAINE «IGOR SIKORSKY KYIV POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE», KYIV, UKRAINE
Publication date: 2026-06-30
Wiadomości Lekarskie 2026;(6):1348-1356
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ABSTRACT
Aim: To synthesize current evidence on the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in public health surveillance, with emphasis on digital health integration,
spatial epidemiology, and decision support for infectious disease monitoring.
Materials and Methods: A narrative review approach was applied based on the analysis of recent peer-reviewed studies, policy documents, and reports from
international health organisations. Sources included research on spatiotemporal disease mapping, digital epidemiology, and GIS-based surveillance systems.
The review focused on applications of GIS in infectious disease tracking, health system planning, data integration platforms, and the digital transformation of
public health infrastructure. A comparative analysis of methodological approaches and technological frameworks was conducted to identify trends, strengths,
and limitations in current practice. The analysis utilized data from the international bibliographic database Scopus, PubMed, international repositories and
public health atlases (Global Health Observatory, ECDC Surveillance Atlas of Infectious Diseases), the central eHealth database, as well as relevant regulatory
and legal documents. Particular attention was given to publications and reports covering the period 2020-2025.
Conclusions: GIS technologies significantly enhance public health surveillance by enabling real-time visualization, improved spatial analysis, and better-
informed decision-making. Integration of GIS with digital health systems and data infrastructures strengthens early warning capabilities and supports
evidence-based interventions. However, challenges remain regarding data quality, interoperability, privacy protection, and unequal technological capacity
across regions. Further development of standardized frameworks and ethical guidelines is required to ensure the effective and sustainable implementation of
geospatial technologies in public health systems.