President Nayib Bukele launched DoctorSV, a government-backed app developed with Google Cloud and financed by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, to expand public health access through telemedicine, AI-assisted diagnostics and free diagnostic services. The platform offers video consultations, QR-coded e-prescriptions, medication pickup at 350+ pharmacies, and phased rollout starting with ages 18–30. Officials say it will ease pressure on the public network, but medical groups warn technology alone cannot solve deep structural problems such as staff shortages, supply gaps and degraded facilities. Experts stress success will require integration with the health system, clinician training and universal connectivity.
El Salvador Launches DoctorSV: Government AI App to Expand Primary Care Access
President Nayib Bukele launched DoctorSV, a government-backed app developed with Google Cloud and financed by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, to expand public health access through telemedicine, AI-assisted diagnostics and free diagnostic services. The platform offers video consultations, QR-coded e-prescriptions, medication pickup at 350+ pharmacies, and phased rollout starting with ages 18–30. Officials say it will ease pressure on the public network, but medical groups warn technology alone cannot solve deep structural problems such as staff shortages, supply gaps and degraded facilities. Experts stress success will require integration with the health system, clinician training and universal connectivity.
07:45 AM, 11/19/2025Health
President Nayib Bukele has unveiled DoctorSV, a government-backed mobile platform designed to extend access to public health care across El Salvador by combining telemedicine, artificial intelligence and no-cost diagnostic services.
Built in partnership with Google Cloud and financed through a loan from the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, DoctorSV enables users to consult physicians by video call, receive AI-assisted diagnostic support, obtain electronic prescriptions encoded with QR codes, and collect medicines at more than 350 affiliated pharmacies. Diagnostic services such as X-rays, ultrasound and complete blood counts are offered at no charge, and test results are added automatically to patients’ digital medical records.
How the rollout will work
The rollout will be phased: initial access is granted to people aged 18–30, with additional age groups added weekly until the entire population is covered. Officials emphasize that DoctorSV is not intended for emergencies or highly complex cases but can provide 24/7 remote care for routine conditions and includes psychological services staffed by professionals and supported by AI tools.
Government goals and partners
At the launch event, President Bukele described the platform as a way to relieve strain on the traditional public network and to offer timely care for people facing long waits or lacking local specialist access. Guy Nae, regional director for Google Cloud, said the project is one of the first major initiatives in the companies' collaboration with El Salvador and aims to bring technology and medicine closer to citizens.
Concerns from medical groups
Medical associations and health experts have welcomed the technological advance but warned that digital solutions cannot, on their own, fix deep structural problems. The Salvadoran Medical Association has said that digitization does not resolve staff shortages, supply gaps, deteriorating facilities, or long-standing weaknesses in mental health networks. In July the association warned of an "unprecedented calamity" at the Salvadoran Social Security Institute, citing shortages of medications, reagents, equipment and specialized personnel.
Those shortages also affect public hospitals, health units and primary care centers, where clinicians are often asked to cover specialties without adequate training because of workforce departures and limited hiring. Experts say DoctorSV’s success will depend on seamless integration with existing services, robust clinician training, data security, and ensuring equitable access for people without reliable internet or mobile devices.
Bottom line: DoctorSV represents a significant digital step for public health in El Salvador, but its long-term impact will hinge on strengthening the broader health system, addressing supply and staffing gaps, and ensuring universal connectivity and inclusion.