[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Medical ethics](https://durgical.com/en/medical-ethics/) › [Medical records and data](https://durgical.com/en/medical-ethics/areas/records/) › Resolución 1995 de 1999: the medical record # Resolución 1995 de 1999: the medical record - Law Resolution 1995 of 1999 says how the medical record is written, kept and protected, who may see it and how long it is kept. Updated Nov 5, 2026 ## Key points - Medical record: private, mandatory, confidential and chronological. - Five characteristics: comprehensiveness, sequence, scientific rationality, availability, timeliness. - Current retention: 15 years (5 active and 10 central), under Resolution 839 of 2017. - Custody belongs to the provider; the patient is the owner and may ask for a copy. - No crossings-out, no blank spaces, no abbreviations; date, time and signature. ## What it is Resolution 1995 of 1999 of the Ministry of Health sets the rules for handling the medical record in Colombia. It defines it as a private, mandatory and confidential document in which the patient's health and the acts of the health team are recorded in chronological order. It sets its characteristics, how it is filled in, its components, custody, who may access it, and the duty to have a medical records committee. Resolution 839 of 2017 changed the retention periods. ## Key articles - Art. 1: the medical record is a private, mandatory and confidential document; third parties may only see it with the patient's authorisation or in cases set by law. - Art. 3: characteristics: comprehensiveness, sequence, scientific rationality, availability and timeliness. - Art. 5: it is filled in clearly and legibly, without crossings-out, alterations, insertions, blank spaces or abbreviations; each note with date, time, full name and signature. - Art. 6: it is identified by the patient's identity document; each provider uses a single institutional record. - Art. 8: components: patient identification, specific records and annexes (such as the informed consent). - Art. 13: custody belongs to the provider that created it; the patient may ask for a copy. - Art. 14: access is open to the patient, the health team, judicial and health authorities in cases set by law, and other persons the law names. - Art. 18: in electronic media, data already saved must not be modifiable, and who recorded each entry must be identifiable. - Arts. 19 and 20: each institution must have a medical records committee. ## In clinical practice - A note without date, time or signature, or corrected with crossings-out, loses value as evidence in an ethics, civil or criminal case. - Families have no automatic access: they need the patient's authorisation or a case set by law. - Test results are entered in the record before they are handed to the patient (art. 11, paragraph 1). ## Status and official text - Official text checked on 2026-11-05 on minsalud.gov.co (Resolution 1995 of 1999 and Resolution 839 of 2017). - Retention: the original version required 20 years (art. 15). Resolution 839 of 2017 (art. 3) changed it to at least 15 years from the last visit: five in the active archive and ten in the central archive. - Under Resolution 839 of 2017 the period doubles for victims of human rights or humanitarian law violations, and retention is permanent if the record becomes part of a case of crimes against humanity. - Legal basis: Law 23 of 1981, arts. 34 to 36. Law 2015 of 2020 created the interoperable electronic health record. - In July 2026 the Ministry of Health published a proposed resolution that would repeal Resolutions 1995 of 1999 and 839 of 2017. Check whether it has been issued before citing these periods. ## Memory aid «CSSAT»: Comprehensiveness, Sequence, Scientific rationality, Availability and Timeliness. ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## How long must the medical record be kept in Colombia? At least 15 years from the last visit (five in the active archive and ten in the central archive), under Resolution 839 of 2017, which changed the 20 years of Resolution 1995 of 1999. ## What are the characteristics of the medical record under Resolution 1995 of 1999? Comprehensiveness, sequence, scientific rationality, availability and timeliness (art. 3). ## Who may access the medical record under art. 14 of Resolution 1995? The patient, the health team, judicial and health authorities in cases set by law, and other persons the law names. ## Who has custody of the medical record? The health service provider that created it in the course of care (art. 13). [Add to my cards (4)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/medical-ethics/resolucion-1995-de-1999-the-medical-record/) ## Connections ## Related 4 - [The electronic health record: Ley 2015 de 2020](https://durgical.com/en/medical-ethics/the-electronic-health-record-ley-2015-de-2020/) - [Ley 1581 de 2012: personal data in health](https://durgical.com/en/medical-ethics/ley-1581-de-2012-personal-data-in-health/) - [Professional secrecy and confidentiality](https://durgical.com/en/medical-ethics/professional-secrecy-and-confidentiality/) - [Ley 23 de 1981: the Colombian medical ethics law](https://durgical.com/en/medical-ethics/ley-23-de-1981-the-colombian-medical-ethics-law/) [← All of medical ethics](https://durgical.com/en/medical-ethics/) Educational content on ethics and health law; not legal advice. Laws and case law change: each page links the official text and says when it was last checked. For a real case, read the text in force and ask a lawyer or the medical ethics tribunal. Sources: [Resolución 1995 de 1999, por la cual se establecen normas para el manejo de la Historia Clínica](https://www.minsalud.gov.co/Normatividad_Nuevo/RESOLUCI%C3%93N%201995%20DE%201999.pdf) (Ministerio de Salud, 1999); [Resolución 839 de 2017, por la cual se modifica la Resolución 1995 de 1999](https://www.minsalud.gov.co/Normatividad_Nuevo/Resolucion%20No%20839%20de%202017.pdf) (Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social, 2017); [Explanatory memorandum of the proposed resolution on the medical record (July 2026)](https://www.minsalud.gov.co/Normativa/anexosproyectos/ANEXO2MEMJUSTIFICATIVAHISTORIA%20CLINICA%2022%20JUL%2026_20260722151201.pdf) (Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social, 2026). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. 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