Summary.
The draft bill establishes a mechanism for managing, collecting, and delivering medications through digital platforms at public hospitals, polyclinics, polycenters, Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud) health centers, and Social Security Fund (Caja de Seguro Social) facilities. Its purpose is to reduce waiting times and lines and improve care for insured persons and other users of the public health system. The Ministry of Health and the Social Security Fund, each within its jurisdiction, would be required to enable a mechanism for viewing approved prescriptions, checking medication availability, scheduling the date and method of pickup, and authorizing collection by third parties or delivery services. Each institution could operate its own platform or integrate the mechanism into existing systems, with access through the web or a mobile application.
Use of the digital system would be voluntary. People without access to technology would retain the option of collecting their medications in person. Insured persons or users could choose to visit the health facility themselves, designate a third party, or request home delivery through a courier or delivery service of their choice. To allow collection by a family member, another third party, or a duly identified delivery service, the insured person would have to give express authorization through the platform or by the means established in the regulations. The authorization would include the insured person’s details, identification of the authorized person or company, express consent, and the authorization’s period of validity. The insured person would bear the delivery cost unless the State establishes a special provision for vulnerable populations.
The system would have to record the medication dispensed and its collection, allow the delivery to be tracked, and confirm that the user received it. If a delivery service is involved, a digital record of delivery would be required. The responsibility of the Ministry of Health and the Social Security Fund would be limited to dispensing the medication correctly and handing it over to the authorized person or chosen service. Transport, custody, and final delivery would be the responsibility of the authorized third party or the delivery company selected by the insured person, as applicable. The insured person’s personal and medical data would be processed in accordance with current data protection law, confidentially and solely for the purposes of the draft bill.
The Ministry of Health and the Social Security Fund would submit an annual report to the National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional) for legislative oversight, stating the number of medications delivered through the digital mechanism, the pickup methods used, reductions in waiting times, and reported incidents. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) would regulate the technical, technological, and operational procedures within 120 days. The text states that it supplements Article 3, paragraphs 8, 10, and 14, of Law 462 of 2025, and that it would enter into force 90 days after its promulgation in the Official Gazette (Gaceta Oficial).
Given its content, the draft bill relates to the Ministry of Health, the Social Security Fund, the National Assembly, and the Executive Branch. It could be of interest to or affect insured persons and public health system users, their family members and other authorized third parties, and courier and home delivery services.
What it proposes.
- Digital management of approved prescriptions and medication availability.
- Scheduling pickup and authorizing third parties or delivery services.
- Security, traceability, and data processing in medication dispensing.
Who it would affect.
- Public hospitals, polyclinics, and polycenters.
- Ministry of Health health centers and Social Security Fund facilities.
- Insured persons and users of the public health system.
- Authorized third parties and delivery services chosen by the insured person.
Key points.
- The Ministry of Health and the Social Security Fund would enable a digital mechanism for viewing prescriptions, checking stock, and scheduling medication pickup.Art. 3
- Use of the system would be voluntary, and traditional in-person pickup would remain available.Art. 4
- Insured persons or users could collect medications themselves, through an authorized third party, or by home delivery.Art. 5
- Authorization for third parties or delivery services would require identification, express consent, and a period of validity; the insured person would bear the delivery cost unless the State establishes a special provision for vulnerable populations.Art. 6
- The system would record pickup and allow delivery to be tracked and confirmed; delivery by a service would require a digital record.Art. 7
- The Ministry of Health and the Social Security Fund would be responsible for dispensing the medication and handing it over to the authorized recipient; the chosen third party or company would be responsible for transport, custody, and final delivery.Art. 8
- Personal and medical data would be processed confidentially and solely for the purposes of the draft bill.Art. 9
- The institutions would submit an annual report to the National Assembly, and the Executive Branch would regulate the mechanism within 120 days.Arts. 10-11