The Collective Interventions Plan (PIC)
- System and programme
The PIC is the set of free public health actions a municipality or department carries out for groups and communities, not for one patient.
What it is
The Public Health Plan of Collective Interventions (PIC) is a set of free interventions, procedures and activities for health promotion and risk management, aimed at the population in the settings of daily life and tailored to each territory. Territorial entities (departments, districts and municipalities) design and deliver it based on the health situation analysis (ASIS) and within the Territorial Health Plan; it complements the individual care that EPSs guarantee. It is now governed by Resolution 1597 of 2025, which replaced Resolution 518 of 2015.
How it is organised
- Design: the health secretariat sets priorities from the ASIS and builds the PIC in line with the Development Plan, the Territorial Health Plan and its action plan.
- Delivery: contracts with the ESE or other experienced bodies; basic health teams work in homes, schools, workplaces and community spaces.
- Monitoring: technical coherence with the ASIS and the Territorial Health Plan, and achievement of targets, are checked.
- Linkage: people detected during a collective action are referred to their EPS for individual care.
Worked example
- A made-up municipality has 2 000 homes in its urban area and its ASIS prioritises dengue.
- The PIC includes house-to-house search and removal of breeding sites plus community education, contracted with the local ESE.
- The first round inspects 1 600 homes: coverage = 1 600 / 2 000 = 80%.
- Larvae are found in 384 homes: house index = 384 / 1 600 = 24%.
- After three months of work, a second round in the same 1 600 homes finds 128 positive: 128 / 1 600 = 8%.
- Reading: the index fell from 24% to 8%, two thirds lower; a person with fever still goes to their EPS, because a consultation is not PIC.
Collective intervention versus individual care
| Aspect | Collective (PIC) | Individual (benefits plan) |
|---|---|---|
| Responsible | Territorial entity | EPS |
| Aimed at | Groups, communities and settings | One enrolled person |
| Example | Breeding-site control in a neighbourhood | Consultation and dengue test for a patient with fever |
| Funding | The territory's public health resources | Capitation (UPC) of the benefits plan |
Markers
- PIC
- ESE
- Territorial Health Plan
- Settings
- Resolution 1597 of 2025
In practice
- A rural doctor may take part in PIC actions: community malaria screening in a village or mental health education in a school.
- What is not PIC: an individual consultation, an enrolee's medicine or a hospital stay, which belong to the benefits plan.
- Collective interventions are planned by setting and life stage, consistent with the health promotion and maintenance pathway.
Reference norms
- Resolution 1597 of 2025 of the Ministry of Health: territorial public health management and the PIC; repealed Resolutions 518 of 2015 and 295 of 2023, except item 14.1 of Resolution 518 (contracting with Indigenous peoples), in force until the related decree-laws are regulated.
- Law 1438 of 2011, article 11: collective public health actions are delivered within PHC and the Territorial Health Plan.
- Resolution 3280 of 2018: Resolution 1597 refers to it for the collective interventions of the health promotion and maintenance pathway.
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Who designs and delivers the Collective Interventions Plan?
Territorial entities (departments, districts and municipalities), which preferably contract it with the State Social Enterprises in their territory.
Why is an enrolee's medical consultation not paid by the PIC?
Because it is individual care under the benefits plan, the EPS's responsibility; the PIC funds actions aimed at groups and settings.
Which document should guide the building of the PIC?
The territory's health situation analysis (ASIS), in line with the Territorial Health Plan.
Which norm governs the PIC today?
Resolution 1597 of 2025 of the Ministry of Health, which replaced Resolution 518 of 2015.
Connections
Educational content on epidemiological and statistical methods; the examples use made-up numbers to teach the calculation. Not a clinical or legal guide: current Colombian rules are in the official sources.
Sources: Compilación Jurídica SuperSalud - Resolución 1597 de 2025 MSPS (Superintendencia Nacional de Salud, Colombia, 2025); Compilación Jurídica SuperSalud - Resolución 518 de 2015 MSPS (Superintendencia Nacional de Salud, Colombia, 2015); Ley 1438 de 2011 (Departamento Administrativo de la Función Pública, Colombia (Gestor Normativo), 2011).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.