On October 28th, Bolivia’s Health Minister Rodolfo Rocabado announced the goal to digitize the medical records of all national patients by 2019, to make medical treatment more accessible and efficient. Paraguay is making similar strides, introducing measures to phase in electronic medical records and prescriptions. For its part, Chile is delivering on its touted Digital Hospital design, a platform supporting the digitalization of medical records and telemedicine. First among equals, however, is Peru, which currently boasts the broadest network of digital medical records in Latin America.

Both Paraguay and Bolivia eye significant public health improvements in 2019. To achieve them, they are committed to driving the digitization of patient medical records. Bolivian authorities will incorporate in these records data on patient diagnoses in public or private health settings. The use of electronic prescriptions is being pushed firmly in Paraguay. Emilio Santelices, Chile’s Health Minister, says the Digital Hospital Plan is progressing well, and due to be operational by early 2019.

Peru, however, is the country they seek to emulate, with its nearly 1900 health providers already using digital medical records as a result of, in particular, a concerted push from the executive branch. According to Diego Venegas Ojeda, Vice-Minister of Health Benefits and Assurance, his country’s is the largest National Telemedicine Network in Latin America, and one that he says will continue to be developed to improve the quality of care for citizens.