An earthquake, a flood or a humanitarian crisis can leave a hospital without water, without power or with more patients than it can handle. For these cases, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection published, on October 16, 2026, a draft resolution that amends section 6 of the Licensing Manual under Resolution 3100 of 2019 and repeals Resolution 2065 of 2025 on temporary or mobile sites. The draft is open for comments until October 30, 2026, which may be sent to jvergel@minsalud.gov.co and mvelandia@minsalud.gov.co. The text is available on the Ministry’s draft regulations page.
Who does it apply to?
Registered providers with licensed services, of any complexity level, departmental and district health secretariats, and health insurers (EPS), which must adjust their networks without creating access barriers.
What changes?
In an emergency, providers may reorganize their services, expand installed capacity or hours, convert one service into another, extend it to additional spaces (including modular infrastructure) or relocate it. Measures may be combined and do not require physical damage: it is enough that the emergency affects service delivery or that demand exceeds available capacity.
What approval is required?
Reorganization and capacity expansion apply directly, under the provider’s responsibility, and must be reviewed at least every 30 days. Conversion, extension and relocation require temporary authorization from the health secretariat, which must decide within five business days; if urgent, they may start earlier by registering in REPS. Authorization lasts up to 12 months, renewable if requested 15 days in advance, and is not permanent licensing.
What other flexibilities does it include?
Standards may be met through alternative means without compromising patient safety: staff may be redeployed across services, although in-person presence cannot be replaced where essential. Providers may also use telemedicine and bring in Emergency Medical Teams. REPS will be the sole reporting channel during the emergency.
What about current authorizations?
Those granted under Resolution 2065 of 2025 remain valid until they expire. Once the emergency ends, providers must return to ordinary conditions without interrupting treatment or, to keep what they implemented, apply for licensing.
What does this mean for your organization?
Although this is still a draft, it is prudent to review contingency plans and REPS reporting now. If you wish to submit comments before October 30 or have any questions, please reach out to our team.
