Health authorities in Colombia and Chile announce new regulatory measures

Health authorities in Colombia and Chile have announced new regulatory measures in response to different public health and emergency scenarios.

In Colombia, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection has proposed a resolution to extend deadlines for health service providers in 15 departments. This measure follows a seismic event on August 10, 2026, centered in San José del Palmar, Chocó, which led to a national disaster declaration. The proposal would allow providers up to six additional months to complete periodic self-evaluations required for the annual renewal of their registration in the Special Registry of Health Service Providers (REPS).

In Chile, the Ministry of Health has extended the mandatory use of masks in specific medical settings until September 30, 2026. The decision targets emergency services, dialysis units, and onco-hematology services in both public and private networks due to high levels of respiratory virus circulation. Recent epidemiological data showed a 56.1% positivity rate, with rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and Influenza B identified as the primary circulating pathogens.