ReTHUS: Colombia's Surgeon Registry — How to Verify Credentials at the Source
ReTHUS is Colombia's official, government-maintained registry of all licensed surgeons and physicians. It's the single source of truth for verifying whether a practitioner is legally licensed to practice in Colombia. Think of it as Colombia's equivalent to the US Federation of State Medical Boards or the NPI database.
What Is ReTHUS?
ReTHUS stands for "Registro de Talento Humano en Salud" (Human Resources in Healthcare Registry). It's maintained by Colombia's Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social) and is the official record of all licensed healthcare professionals—surgeons, physicians, nurses, physical therapists, etc.
To practice legally in Colombia, a healthcare professional must be registered in ReTHUS. Operating without registration is illegal and exposes the clinic to regulatory penalties.
How to Verify a Surgeon on ReTHUS
Visit rethus.gov.co and follow these steps:
- Click "Consultar Profesional" (Consult Professional)
- Enter the surgeon's full name (search can be sensitive to spelling)
- Select "Médico" (Physician/Doctor) from the dropdown
- Click "Buscar" (Search)
If the surgeon is licensed, the following information will appear:
- Full name and ID number (Cédula de Ciudadanía)
- License number and expiration date
- Specialty (Cirugía, Cirugía Plástica, Ortopedia, etc.)
- Professional registration status (active, suspended, etc.)
- Current employer affiliations (hospitals, clinics)
What to Look For
Active status: License must show "Vigente" (active/current). If it says "Suspendido" (suspended) or "Cancelado" (cancelled), the surgeon is not licensed to practice.
Current specialty: Verify the surgeon's stated specialty matches what they're offering. A surgeon listed as "General Surgery" performing cosmetic procedures is outside their registered scope.
License expiration: Licenses require renewal. Confirm the expiration date hasn't passed.
What ReTHUS Does NOT Show
ReTHUS confirms legal registration, but it does NOT show:
- Board certification (SCCP, SOCIOS, etc.) — check those separately
- Malpractice history or complaints (check Superintendencia de Salud)
- Hospital affiliations beyond current employer
- Training background or credentials
ReTHUS is a baseline check—it answers the question, "Is this person legally licensed?" It's not a comprehensive credential verification, but it IS essential. If a surgeon doesn't appear in ReTHUS, do not proceed.
Red Flags
- Surgeon does not appear in ReTHUS at all
- License shows suspended or cancelled status
- License expiration date has passed
- Surgeon's registered specialty doesn't match the procedure they're offering
FAQ: What If the Website Is Slow or Won't Load?
A: ReTHUS is sometimes slow during peak hours. Try again later, or ask the clinic to provide official documentation from ReTHUS (they should have it on file). You can also contact Superintendencia de Salud directly for verification.
Bottom line: Before booking any surgery, verify the surgeon on ReTHUS.gov.co. If they're not there, the surgery is not legal.
Related resources:
Learn more: → Colombia Medical Hub