Colombia advances AI rules for healthcare

Colombia’s Senate held a public hearing on Bill 216 of 2026, which seeks to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. At the same time, Antioquia’s assembly approved a second-debate ordinance to govern its use in departmental administration, with provisions on personal data protection, transparency, security, human oversight and risk management.

What did the Senate discuss about AI in healthcare?

The Senate’s Seventh Commission focused on governance, patient safety, health data protection and professional autonomy under Bill 216 of 2026. During the hearing, lawmakers also raised cybersecurity and sensitive-data concerns. The process will continue with written submissions to strengthen the first-debate report.

According to the Senate of the Republic of Colombia, the comments collected included clarifying the responsibilities of developers, institutions and professionals, validating systems with Colombian populations, recognizing all health professions in governance, and evaluating controlled testing environments. Senator Nadia Blel Scaff, who authored the initiative, also said the inputs under review included structuring Bill 216 of 2026 as a framework public policy law.

What did Antioquia approve on artificial intelligence?

Antioquia’s assembly approved a second-debate ordinance to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in the departmental administration. The measure passed with 20 votes in favor and none against. It contains 55 articles and aims to organize the use of these tools in local public administration.

According to El Colombiano, the text includes provisions on personal data protection, transparency, security, human oversight and risk management. The Antioquia governor’s office also said it is already using artificial intelligence to support the calculation of the registration tax and other internal service and management processes, within the context of the approved ordinance.

What is happening with Bill 065 of 2026?

A Colombian legal outlet reported that Senate Bill 065 of 2026, promoted by Senator John Amaya Rodríguez, had been introduced and was moving through the process, with a proposal for comprehensive artificial intelligence regulation. The same report said the scope would include foreigners whose systems produce effects in Colombia and oversight by the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce.

That parliamentary status and the bill’s content should be checked against the Senate’s official record, according to the legal publication cited. For now, the bill remains a follow-up reference rather than a confirmed item in the official legislative record within the material reviewed.