Colombia updates telemedicine and telehealth regulations

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection, under the signature of Minister Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo Martínez, issued Resolution number 001644 of 2026 (July 31), published in the Official Gazette number 53,618 on Monday, September 7, 2026, pages 21 to 32. The regulation updates the regulatory framework for telehealth and the provision of health services under the telemedicine modality within the General Social Security System in Health (SGSSS), and repeals Resolution number 2654 of 2019.

The resolution addresses the operational gaps and interpretation difficulties detected during the term of the previous regulation, particularly regarding the categories of the modality, the types of interaction, and the roles of the actors in rural and dispersed territories. It is supported by Law 1419 of 2010, Law 1751 of 2015 (fundamental right to health), Decree number 351 of 2025 (National Rural Health Plan), and Conpes Document 4144 of 2025 (National Artificial Intelligence Policy).

Categories and conditions of the modality

The telemedicine modality is structured into four categories, which may be combined according to the nature of the service and the clinical condition of the user:

Telexperticia (Tele-expertise): professional or specialized consultation with remote intervention by specialists.
Teleconcepto (Tele-concept): interconsultation or issuance of a concept with differentiated responsibility between nodes.
Teleconsulta (Tele-consultation): consultation or diagnostic support from the reference node to the referring party or the user’s home.
Telemonitoreo (Tele-monitoring): remote clinical assessment and follow-up, with the generation of early alerts.

The regulation defines the referring and reference service nodes, the telemedicine link points, and the types of communication (synchronous and asynchronous, interactive and non-interactive). The prescription of medications may only be carried out in the categories of telexperticia, teleconsulta, and teleconcepto.

Artificial intelligence and information security

The use of platforms based on artificial intelligence (AI) is permitted as a technological support tool, provided that transparency, accountability, and the supervision of human health talent are guaranteed. AI may not substitute clinical judgment or replace the doctor-patient interaction, and the user must be informed in advance when these tools are used in their care.

Technological platforms must comply with standards for security, encryption, authentication, and interoperability with the electronic health record. Instant messaging applications such as WhatsApp and communication via social networks are excluded. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection will issue, within twelve months, the technical guidelines for the implementation, evaluation, and use of AI in this modality.

Differential Criteria and Financing

The resolution provides for differential criteria for the provision of telemedicine in municipalities with special conditions, including:

Population equal to or less than 20,000 inhabitants.
Municipalities included in Territorial Development Programs (PDET).
Municipalities with Special Comprehensive Intervention Plans (PEII) in Strategic Zones (ZEII).
Municipalities linked to the National Comprehensive Program for the Voluntary Substitution of Illicit Crops (PNIS).
Municipalities classified as Zones Most Affected by the Armed Conflict (ZOMAC).
Special zones of geographical dispersion and municipalities with a significant presence of ethnic communities.

Services provided under this modality will be financed with resources from the Capitation Payment Unit (UPC) when they are included in the Health Benefits Plan, without telemedicine generating additional financing. The regulation also governs the participation of health professionals domiciled abroad and interoperability with the electronic health record, with a gradual implementation plan for municipalities with the greatest difficulties.

Resolution number 001644 of 2026 takes effect from its issuance and constitutes a key advancement in closing health access gaps in rural and dispersed areas of Colombia, while incorporating digital transformation and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

Source: Official Gazette, number 53,618, Monday, September 7, 2026, pp. 21-32 (official reference: Resolution number 001644 of 2026).