The National Health Information System (NHIS) acts as a guardian of core data, much like DNA. Both systems share many similarities in the way they process information.
Just as DNA cannot be directly accessed to retrieve its information, the NHIS does not provide direct access to end users of the system. Instead, both systems rely on intermediaries that, following strictly defined rules and mechanisms, access only the information needed for a specific purpose. In the case of DNA, this intermediary is messenger RNA (mRNA), whose role is to copy a specific segment of DNA and make it readable through a process called transcription.
Similarly, when a system reads information from a database, this happens according to defined rules known as "transactions". The result of this process is a copy of the requested information, which is not yet ready for direct use by the biological or computer system. What follows is the process of translating the information — known as translation. In a biological system, this involves the creation of a protein molecule based on the instructions encoded in the mRNA. In computer systems (with some simplification), a similar process occurs and is called deserialization. The end result is a logically new object that the corresponding system can work with. In the biological context, this is a specific protein with a characteristic structure and function; in a software system, it is a data object that makes working with that data more practical.
It is important to note that these objects reflect the information available at the time it was copied. If the information in the DNA or the database is subsequently modified, that change will not automatically be reflected in the already-created objects — they will still represent the old data. While such events are exceptional in the case of DNA, they can and do occur in databases.
This is also where the key difference between the two systems lies. DNA is itself a complete set of information that cannot easily be added to or removed from — or at least, it is not advisable. The existing data can be altered, but this happens slowly and through random mechanisms. Databases, on the other hand, are designed to collect data. Writing information follows a complex mechanism to ensure the integrity, consistency, and reliability of the data upon completion of a record. These principles are especially critical for medical information.
For this reason, software developed to work with the NHIS must meet a range of requirements when making requests to the central system. Requests are made using the international HL7 FHIR standard and are accompanied by a digital signature as a guarantee of authenticity and uniqueness.
The similarities between biological and computer systems are numerous. It is fascinating how, in designing the architecture and operating principles of software, humans have mirrored many of the principles found in biological systems. We hope to explore more such parallels in future posts.