Uruguay's Ministry of Public Health has extended remote medical care via telemedicine until February 15, due to the health emergency.
Since March 2020, due to the health emergency, all the institutions of the National Integrated Health System (SNIS) in Uruguay, complied with the provision of the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), for the implementation of remote medical consultations through telemedicine or even through home care.
Likewise, the regulation forced the suspension of non-urgent and oncological surgeries, preventive measures to avoid the spread of COVID-19 and the saturation of hospitals. However, these measures only lasted two months, until May 2020.
However, on October 20, the measures were applied again, in some areas of Uruguay and finally in Montevideo they were applied again on December 9. Subsequently, MSP resolution 7,467/021, extended the measures until February 15.
"Establish telephone or telemedicine consultation as the first line of care, focusing on outpatient, polyclinic and hospitalization resources, ensuring the immediate care of patients affected by the pandemic," states the resolution for five departments of Uruguay.
Therefore, the modalities of telephone care, video consultations and other platforms for the development of telemedicine will be the main tool to ensure that patients continue their treatment, especially in the current scenario, in which Uruguay has registered unprecedented numbers of infections since the beginning of the pandemic.