To lower the maternal mortality rate, the Colombian authorities have successfully implemented a model first developed for vulnerable populations nationwide.
By the end of November 2023, a total of 9,511 clinicians at more than 200 hospitals were properly trained and, through the interconnected network, managed to care for 6,710 patients, including 4,418 pregnant women. For example, in 2022, the maternal mortality rate in Valle del Cauca fell by 12.5 per 100,000 live births, a drop of 84% over 2021.
2018, the Hospital Padrino strategy, a social innovation model aimed at vulnerable populations, was launched. In 2023, the Colombian Ministry of Health integrated the strategy into its national policy for reducing maternal mortality in 16 Colombian territories. Within six months of the implementation, a 16% reduction in the maternal mortality rate was reached, prompting the government to adopt the strategy nationwide. More extensive or higher–quality hospitals are meant to accompany smaller sponsored hospitals to increase health equity, promote knowledge, ensure timely access to quality health services, and strengthen facilities to reduce preventable maternal deaths.