National Hospital, the first to be opened as a comprehensive center for patients with multiple sclerosis in Colombia

The National University Hospital of Colombia (HUN) officially becomes the first center in the country to simultaneously provide treatment and pharmaceutical management for patients with multiple sclerosis, a rare disease of the central nervous system that requires specialized, ongoing, and humane care.

Thanks to its full compliance with the requirements established by Resolution 651 of 2018 of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the HUN has achieved an unprecedented dual accreditation in Colombia: as a treatment referral center and as a pharmacy referral center for rare diseases. This milestone consolidates the Hospital as a national model for coordinated, high-quality care.

"This is an institutional achievement that reflects our commitment to comprehensive care, research, and the humanization of care for complex diseases such as multiple sclerosis," said Dr. José Guillermo Ruíz R., Scientific Director of HUN, who also highlighted the trust placed in us by more than 700 patients who now comprise one of the largest cohorts in the country.

Although the resolution authorizing these centers was issued in 2018, only one institution in Colombia has so far managed to certify both services jointly.

“The HUN is the first to achieve this goal. We had to go through years of work, adaptation, and evaluation to make this center a reality,” explained Dr. Simón Cárdenas, neurologist and leader of the Reference Center.

The implemented model includes specialized consultation, interdisciplinary care with physicians, nurses, physical therapists, psychologists, and social workers, access to a specialized clinical pharmacy, pharmacotherapy follow-up, adherence monitoring, and comprehensive case management that helps reduce system gaps.

“The habilitation substantially improves care. It facilitates access, strengthens coordination with the health care providers, and guarantees continuity of treatment ,” said Lorena López, the program's lead nurse.

Precision Pharmaceutical Care: Much More Than Drug Delivery

From the pharmacy reference center, the team led by pharmaceutical chemist Andrea Lizet Ibañez conducts rigorous clinical monitoring before, during, and after treatment administration.

Special attention is paid to biotechnological drugs such as ocrelizumab, which require active monitoring up to 24 hours after infusion to detect potential adverse events and improve therapeutic safety.

"We are not a dispensing pharmacy: we provide personalized pharmacotherapy, active pharmacovigilance, and ensure that each medication fulfills its purpose without endangering the patient," Ibañez added.

This achievement was possible thanks to the collaborative work of the neurology group with the nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, radiology, bacteriology, and administrative support services.

"This is the first specialized clinic at HUN and the first dual-certification center in the country," said Yanira Rodríguez, Director of Nursing at the Hospital and professor at the UNAL School of Nursing.

“It is a commitment to safety, science, and the humanity of care.”

The accreditation process took more than two years of continuous work. From self-assessment to the implementation of improvements, the Hospital consolidated clear care pathways, adherence programs, information systems integration, and health outcomes assessment, as confirmed by Lorena López.

"This isn't just a technical requirement that's been met. It's a promise fulfilled: to provide excellent care, to accompany with humanity, and to serve the country with evidence and vocation."