The Ministry of Health and Protection (Minsalud) reported that from March 2020 to July of this year they registered 55 million teleconsultations.
The Ministry of Health recognized as one of the great challenges of the health emergency to guarantee health care. However, through teleconsultations it was possible for citizens to have access to health services during the pandemic. In March 2020, they managed to carry out more than 443 thousand remote consultations, however, the accumulated figure from March 2020 to June exceeded expectations and reached 55 million teleconsultations.
"For the month of July 2021, the activities carried out reached 2.67 million, with a decrease of 658,000 visits compared to June 2021," explained John Manuel Delgado, Director of Service Provision at the Ministry of Health.
The most frequent visits were related to common illnesses and follow-up care for patients with chronic conditions. These represent more than 50% of the teleconsultations, according to Delgado. On the other hand, 24% of the teleconsultations were recorded as consultations with specialists.
"This has been a process that has allowed us to guarantee access to health services and that leaves us learning and challenges for the future in the country's health, with the aim that these channels are maintained and continue to be strengthened," Delgado commented.
Actions in telemedicine and teleconsultations were possible thanks to the implementation of Resolution 521 of 2020, which aimed to guarantee access to health services during isolation measures.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Health also announced that during the same period from March 2020 to July 2021, they registered 8.7 million home visits.
