PISA.net is the portuguese Official Management System for Animal Health adopted by the government since 1990
After entering the European Union, Portugal became subject to the strict demands of the community with regard to animal health control. This meant modernising the system used for obtaining information and monitoring activities related to Disease Eradication Plans defined by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, with a view to their convergence with European Union regulations.
This was why, in 1990, the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture officially adopted PISA. Created from scratch by Digidelta Software, the system was developed in accordance with guidelines supplied by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate – the entity responsible for coordinating Disease Eradication Plans in Portugal. Besides being used in mainland Portugal, PISA subsystems were also created and adapted to official bodies in the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira. These were also controlled by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
The system was used by Digidelta Software, which also undertakes to train entities involved. PISA.net started to manage small and large meat and dairy ruminants on Portuguese farms, issuing detailed reports on their state of health, in order to meet national and European Union demands. PISA has now over 20 years of experience.
The System's dimension in Portugal
In Portugal, the system currently uses the most recent IT technologies. The latest version was launched in 2008.
PISA.net operates online in real time with over 1000 synchronised users of this unique animal health management system. It actually manages about 5.5 million live animals – 1.5 million cattle and 4 million goats and sheep – and a total record of over 17 million controlled animals. With its proven efficacy and profitability, the system is prepared for managing species of veterinary interest and the inclusion of pigs and horses is being planned for the near future.
The Entities involved
PISA involves all partners interested in controlling animal health, including the Government (or department responsible for a specific area), farm producer associations and respective farms.Therefore, the system includes the whole hierarchy of veterinary administrators, on-site veterinary surgeons and laboratories responsible for analysing animal samples collected.
