[Implementation of digital signatures on death certificates in Peru, 2022-2024Implementação da assinatura digital no atestado de óbito no Peru, 2022-2024].

Abstract

Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems support individuals' right to identity and their access to public services, and provide information useful for public health. Peru's CRVS system uses applications that allow online medical certification of vital events. Since this information can be falsified, measures are required to ensure that the information entered is supported and not rejected, for example through the use of digital signatures. This article describes the implementation of digital signatures on death certificates (DSDC) produced online and their relationship with the reporting of deaths in SINADEF, the national system for reporting deaths. The digital signature for DSDCs issued online uses the national electronic identity card (DNIe), which has a cryptographic chip containing a physician's digital certificate, linking a pair of private and public keys. Implementation of the digital signature coincided with the recovery of death reporting levels in 2024. Implementation of the digital signature strengthens security and confidence in the CRVS system, minimizes the risk of false DSDCs, provides citizens with simpler and more secure processes, and helps to reduce under-registration and increase data quality and system efficiency.