Colombia is addressing a critical gap in its public health infrastructure with plans to establish a nationwide toxicology network. The proposal, known as RENATO, aims to improve the country’s capacity to prevent, monitor, and respond to the significant and growing burden of chemical poisonings-a public health issue contributing to an estimated 1.6 million deaths globally each year, according to the World Health Organization. The initiative comes as Colombian authorities acknowledge existing limitations in diagnostic capabilities, access to antidotes, and coordinated response systems across the country.
Colombia is moving forward with plans to establish a national toxicology network aimed at improving the prevention, monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of chemical poisonings. The proposed network, known as RENATO (Red Nacional de ToxicologÃa), is a response to a sustained burden of acute poisonings and gaps in the country’s toxicological infrastructure, according to a recent proposal from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.
This initiative comes as chemical exposures continue to pose a significant public health challenge globally, with the World Health Organization estimating that chemicals are associated with over 1.6 million deaths annually. A coordinated national response is crucial for mitigating these risks and ensuring effective patient care.
Rising Poisonings Prompt National Network Proposal
Table of Contents
- Rising Poisonings Prompt National Network Proposal
- What Will the National Toxicology Network (RENATO) Do?
- National Institute of Health to Lead RENATO
- Key Functions of the National Toxicology Network
- Governance Structure: Coordinating Unit and Technical Committee
- International and National Framework
- Timeline and Scope of the Proposed Regulation
Data from Colombia’s Public Health Surveillance System (SIVIGILA) indicates a consistent rate of acute poisonings, primarily linked to medications, psychoactive substances, and pesticides. Officials say this epidemiological trend necessitates a structured and specialized response from the public health system.
Currently, the country faces limitations in toxicological care, including a shortage of antidotes, limited diagnostic capabilities in many regions, and a lack of a unified national network for timely and consistent responses to poisoning events. The Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Health (INS) have documented these deficiencies, which are driving the development of RENATO.
What Will the National Toxicology Network (RENATO) Do?
The proposed resolution outlines RENATO as a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and inter-institutional structure dedicated to the study, prevention, surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, research, and response to toxicological events and health problems associated with exposure to toxic substances.
RENATO will operate within the framework of integrated health service networks, with a territorial focus, as outlined in Law 1438 of 2011 and the Health Statute (Law 1751 of 2015). The network will be jointly coordinated by the National Institute of Health and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.
National Institute of Health to Lead RENATO
The proposal designates the National Institute of Health (INS) as the technical coordinator of RENATO, leveraging its scientific expertise, role as the national reference laboratory, and prior experience coordinating specialized networks, such as the National Blood Bank Network and the National Transplant Network.
According to the document, the INS has the legal authority to provide opinions on toxicological classification, risk assessment, and health surveillance, as well as to coordinate health information systems and knowledge networks – all considered essential for the proposed network’s operation.
Key Functions of the National Toxicology Network
The proposed resolution details several key functions for RENATO, including:
- Coordinating and linking public and private institutions involved in clinical, environmental, occupational, forensic, and analytical toxicology.
- Consolidating national and territorial toxicological information and existing systems.
- Developing information and communication systems for reporting, analyzing, and responding to poisonings and toxicological emergencies.
- Standardizing technical guidelines, protocols, and procedures for toxicovigilance and clinical care.
- Strengthening regional centers for toxicological information and care, and integrating them with Emergency Care Networks (CRUE).
- Promoting training for professionals, applied research, and strategies for prevention and health education.
Governance Structure: Coordinating Unit and Technical Committee
The proposed regulatory project envisions a RENATO Coordinating Unit within the INS, responsible for linking regional nodes, defining operational, care, and surveillance indicators, and ensuring interoperability with SIVIGILA, CRUE, and territorial emergency medical systems.
A RENATO Committee is also proposed as an advisory body, comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Health, the INS, the National Health Superintendency, and INVIMA (the National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance). This committee will provide strategic guidance, validate protocols, prioritize toxicological events, and monitor the network’s development.
International and National Framework
The proposed resolution is grounded in guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), which warns that chemicals are associated with more than 1.6 million deaths annually worldwide, many of which are preventable through well-structured national toxicology systems.
It also aligns with the obligations of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), which urge states to strengthen their capacity to prevent and respond to chemical and biological risks, as well as with Colombia’s adopted Preventative, Predictive, and Resolutive Health Model.
Timeline and Scope of the Proposed Regulation
If approved as proposed, the resolution establishes that the National Institute of Health will have six months, potentially extendable for another six, to develop the technical guidelines necessary for RENATO’s operation. The proposed scope includes national and territorial entities, healthcare providers, toxicological information centers, universities, and research centers, as well as interoperability with health surveillance and emergency systems.
You can view and download the proposed resolution here.
