LA PAZ – Hospital Salvatierra, the largest public hospital in La Paz operated by the Secretaría de Salud de Baja California Sur, has entered a telemedicine partnership with UC San Diego Health that allows specialists in San Diego to consult on complex cases in real time via secure video link. The program, which launched in early 2026, initially covers cardiology, neurology, and trauma surgery, with plans to expand to oncology and pediatric specialties by mid-year.
The partnership builds on UCSD Health’s existing cross-border telemedicine infrastructure, which was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to support hospitals in Tijuana and Mexicali. The La Paz expansion extends that network 1,000 miles south into Baja California Sur, where specialist access has historically been limited. Patients requiring advanced cardiac imaging or neurological evaluation previously faced a flight to Tijuana, Guadalajara, or Mexico City, adding days and thousands of pesos in travel costs to their treatment.
Under the program, La Paz physicians present cases through a telemedicine platform that transmits medical imaging, lab results, and live video examination to UCSD specialists at the Medical Education and Telemedicine Building on the La Jolla campus. UCSD doctors provide diagnostic consultation and treatment recommendations but do not prescribe directly to Mexican patients. The service is available to all Hospital Salvatierra patients at no additional cost, funded through a combination of the BCS state health budget and a UCSD global health grant.
For American expats and retirees living in La Paz and the East Cape who hold U.S. health insurance, the partnership offers a new option: initial consultation at Hospital Salvatierra with remote specialist input from UCSD, potentially avoiding the expense and disruption of medical evacuation to the U.S. for non-emergency specialist opinions. The hospital’s telemedicine coordinator can be reached at (612) 122-1496 for referral information.