Public health initiatives in Colombia and Uruguay

Public health efforts in Colombia and Uruguay have transitioned from localized community outreach to broader systemic and digital reforms.

In late October 2026, rural health initiatives were conducted in Uruguay and Colombia. In Uruguay, the Lavalleja Departmental Health Directorate and the Ministry of Public Health organized a health day at Escuela Nº 17 in Estación Solís. This event included vaccinations, oral health services, and ophthalmological screenings. It also featured field research by the Field Epidemiology Training Program to study human cystic echinococcosis through ultrasound screenings of children. Simultaneously, in La Linda, Colombia, a themed health event at the La Linda Educational Institution provided vaccinations, mental health orientation, and dental care.

By early November 2026, the focus shifted toward large-scale health system management. Colombia has been advancing the implementation of Electronic Health Record Interoperability, which as of late October includes over 12 million patients and 51 million digital care records to improve medical decision-making. In Uruguay, the Minister of Public Health launched the SNIS 20+ process, a year-long initiative to review the National Integrated Health System. This process aims to address issues such as mental health access, medication availability, and waiting times ahead of the system’s 20th anniversary.