Bolivia decentralizes professional health licenses

The Bolivian Ministry of Health and Sports has decentralized the issuance of professional licenses for healthcare workers. Under Ministerial Resolution No. 0412, medical professionals, nurses, and specialists can now process new licenses, updates, and duplicates within their respective departments through regional departmental links.

This measure aims to eliminate the need for professionals to travel to La Paz, which previously incurred significant costs—averaging between 2,000 and 2,500 Bolivianos for transport and lodging—and caused loss of working days. The new process includes the reception of requirements, evaluation, and delivery of documentation at the departmental level, with a maximum processing time of 10 business days.

To ensure security and authenticity, the system utilizes the SIREPRO digital platform for centralized registration and protection of academic and personal data. President Rodrigo Paz Pereira noted that the initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize public management and bring services closer to citizens by reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and costs.