Telemedicine in Colombia: opportunities and limitations in the new times

August 9, 2023

Erwin Hernandez, Columnist, Más Colombia

Erwin Hernández

Physician, Universidad de La Sabana, PhD. in clinical research, Master in Primary Health Care, Master in Government and Management of the Health System. Professor of the Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Sabana.

In the aftermath of the covid-19 health emergency, the way we access medical care was radically transformed. Although telemedicine had emerged years earlier, during the pandemic it became an invaluable tool for ensuring continuity in the delivery of medical services, minimizing the risks of contagion and providing access to health services remotely.

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In Colombia, the pandemic accelerated the implementation of telemedicine and opened up a range of opportunities and also certain limitations that must be taken into account to date.

Among the plus points, telemedicine has proven to be the gateway to improving access to medical care, especially in rural and remote areas where the availability of health services is limited.

This allows these patients to receive quality medical care without having to travel long distances, saving time and money. In addition, this tool has made the delivery of health services more efficient, providing timely care to patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus or arterial hypertension, as physicians see a greater number of patients in less time, optimizing resources and reducing waiting lists.

Likewise, telemedicine has also promoted the exchange of knowledge among health professionals, since through digital platforms, physicians can consult with specialists in different parts of the country, which improves the quality of care and decision making, reducing access barriers.

But, despite the opportunities offered by this tool, there are also limitations that must be addressed to ensure its effectiveness and equity.

Firstly, it is necessary to ensure connectivity and internet access throughout the Colombian territory and, although the country has made significant progress in terms of telecommunications infrastructure in recent years, there are still rural and remote areas where connectivity is limited or non-existent; this prevents patients in these areas from accessing telemedicine services effectively, which perpetuates inequalities in access to health care.

Another limitation is the regulation and standardization in the provision of services under this modality, because although in Colombia the regulations were made more flexible through a temporary decree (538 of 2020), once the pandemic was over, the regulatory mechanisms were the same again.

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This meant continuing to face difficulties in reaching the most vulnerable and remote areas, because the technological service providers of virtual platforms are still too expensive for the reality of the country.

In short, telemedicine represents a unique opportunity to improve access to health care in Colombia, especially in rural and remote areas. However, existing limitations need to be addressed to ensure its effectiveness and equity in these new, post-pandemic times.

However, telemedicine should not be understood as a definitive solution, but as a complementary tool that can improve the efficiency and accessibility of medical care.

This involves fundamental issues such as investment in telecommunications infrastructure and the promotion of education and training of healthcare professionals in the proper use of telemedicine.

In addition, it opens the way to encourage research and development of specialized technologies such as mobile applications and connected medical devices, which can facilitate the provision of remote healthcare services.

In conclusion, telemedicine in Colombia has proven to be an invaluable opportunity to improve health care delivery, so that it continues to be a tool that contributes to the health of Colombians to guarantee this fundamental right to which everyone should have access.

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