The Ministry of Health announced on March 26 that the Government of Jujuy will launch its first telemedicine experience during the health operation for the Punta Corral pilgrimage, using the provincial public Digital Health service. The initiative aims to connect local hospital emergency rooms with those in the capital city through digital technology.
This project is significant because it strengthens the healthcare system’s ability to respond during complex events like large pilgrimages, which involve challenging geography and high attendance. By introducing real-time communication and data sharing between medical teams, authorities hope to improve patient care and safety.
Augusto Ittig, head of Digital Health, said, “In 2026, in a experience that will mark a leap in quality in population care, the Digital Health team will be present at the Punta Corral operation working together with SAME 107 through Red CUDE, one of its main lines of action that allows real-time connection between emergency rooms in rural hospitals and those in the provincial capital.”
Ittig explained that staff will operate onsite at Tumbaya’s Field Hospital (HOSCAM), which serves as a central hub connected to higher complexity hospitals such as Pablo Soria and San Roque. Satellite internet provided by SAME 107 will enable constant information flow among medical teams stationed along pilgrimage routes and ambulances transporting patients from Tumbaya to San Salvador. This setup supports video communication platforms for continuous monitoring of patients—especially important given risks associated with altitude, temperature changes, and remote terrain.
Field stations will be equipped with ultrasound devices and multiparametric monitors whose results can be shared online among medical staff for timely clinical evaluation. The field hospital will also offer X-ray services capable of digitizing images for immediate transmission to support decision-making on site.
Daniel Garabito, director of the Informatics Unit, said efforts are underway to integrate these technologies with SUPERPACS—the centralized Medical Imaging Portal—so reference hospitals can access images generated at Tumbaya instantly. This integration is being implemented through new equipment installation and configuration.
