In an effort to bring about a structural transformation of Colombia’s health system, the National Government issued Decree 0858 of July 30, 2025, formally adopting the Preventive, Predictive, and Resolutive Health Model as public policy throughout the national territory. This measure repeals Part 11 of Book 2 of Decree 780 of 2016 and aligns with the guidelines established in the 2022–2026 National Development Plan, advancing toward a system centered on life, territorial equity, and the effective guarantee of the fundamental right to health.
The new model represents a paradigmatic shift in the way healthcare is conceived, organized, and delivered in Colombia. It emphasizes early intervention, risk anticipation, and comprehensive health management, with a strong focus on promoting well-being and addressing the social determinants of health. Primary Health Care serves as the central strategy of this new framework, reinforcing community participation, intersectoral coordination, and a stronger role for local public health systems.
As part of this shift, the decree calls for the gradual implementation of Territorial Integrated and Comprehensive Health Networks (RIITS), aimed at coordinating public, private, and community providers within each region to ensure more responsive, accessible, and continuous care.
The model also prioritizes the strengthening of first-level care as the main entry point to the system, with expanded coverage and improved capacity to resolve health needs effectively. Additionally, it promotes better working conditions for healthcare personnel, encouraging stable employment, territorial integration, and continuous training.
In keeping with its territorial focus, the model seeks to correct structural inequalities by directing investment toward physical, technological, and logistical infrastructure in rural, remote, and underserved areas. Local authorities are expected to play an active role in planning, executing, and evaluating region-specific health plans, ensuring that services respond to the cultural and geographic realities of each community.
The Ministry of Health and Social Protection will lead the implementation process, working closely with territorial entities and all actors in the system, who must align their roles, resources, and operational plans with the new regulatory framework. The decree also foresees the development of technical tools, interoperable information systems, and performance indicators that will enable monitoring, accountability, and the assessment of health outcomes over time.
Through this reform, the country moves toward a people-centered, equitable, and preventive health system that prioritizes quality, cultural relevance, and the sustainability of care. Decree 0858 redefines the institutional design of the health system and establishes a new model of governance in which the State takes a proactive role in ensuring the right to health and overcoming the historical barriers that have hindered access to care for large segments of the population.
