Performance of Primary Health Care in Colombia (2011–2026)

This project aims to systematically map and synthesize the available scientific evidence on the performance, implementation, and experiences of Primary Health Care (PHC) in Colombia between 2011 and March 2026. Primary Health Care has been recognized as a fundamental strategy for improving health outcomes, reducing inequalities, and strengthening the sustainability of health systems. In Colombia, the strengthening of PHC was formally reinforced through Law 1438 of 2011, which promoted a health system orientation toward prevention, health promotion, and integrated care. Despite these policy efforts, the implementation of PHC across the Colombian health system has been heterogeneous, influenced by territorial, institutional, and socioeconomic factors. Understanding how PHC has been implemented and evaluated in different contexts of the country is essential to identify advances, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. This study will conduct a scoping review following the methodological guidance of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The review will include studies published between January 2011 and March 2026 that analyze, describe, or evaluate models, programs, policies, interventions, or experiences related to Primary Health Care in Colombia. Searches will be conducted in multiple scientific databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and LILACS, as well as selected sources of grey literature from international and national organizations. The review will identify and describe the types of PHC models and interventions implemented in the country, the populations and contexts in which they have been applied, and the outcomes reported in relation to health services organization, access to care, quality of services, and community health impact. Additionally, the study will synthesize the barriers and facilitators described for PHC implementation and highlight methodological limitations and knowledge gaps in the existing literature. The expected outcomes of this project include a comprehensive overview of the current evidence on Primary Health Care in Colombia, identification of research gaps, and the generation of evidence that may inform future research, policy development, and strategies aimed at strengthening PHC within the Colombian health system.