Colombia’s Clínica del Country, a leading private healthcare institution in Bogotá, has long been recognized for pioneering medical techniques. In 2025, the clinic completed an expansion of its technology, including the purchase of a Positron Emission Tomograph (PET) scanner, adding to its existing Angiograph and computed tomography capabilities, according to a timeline published by the institution.
Founded in 1962, Clínica del Country has consistently introduced advanced medical technologies to Colombia. It was the first in the country to implement intravenous anesthesia in 1968, and later, the first in Bogotá to install magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 1989. The clinic received the National Medicine Award for its early adoption of laparoscopic surgery, a technique that has since become standard practice and has been used to train generations of surgeons, as noted in a history of the clinic.
The institution, located in the ‘Antiguo Country’ neighborhood of Chapinero, Bogotá, currently handles over 137,000 emergency cases and approximately 3,000 births annually. In 2007, the clinic inaugurated a new unit on Carrera 16, equipped with state-of-the-art technology. A research center followed in 2008.
In 2009, Clínica del Country became part of Banmédica, a Chilean healthcare and insurance group. The clinic also initiated a renal transplant program that same year. Further expansion occurred in 2011 with the opening of the Centro de Oncología, specializing in breast cancer treatment.
The clinic’s contributions to Colombian medicine were formally recognized in 2018 when it was awarded the Cruz de Boyacá, Silver Cross, for its service to the nation. The District Council also presented the Orden al Mérito José Acevedo y Gómez, Grand Cross, in acknowledgement of its contributions to the capital district.
As of May 10, 2024, Clínica del Country emphasized its commitment to patient safety, outlining protocols for emergency situations and encouraging patients to familiarize themselves with evacuation routes, according to a recent notice on the clinic’s website.