CENS

What CENS does

CENS (Centro Nacional en Sistemas de Información en Salud) is Chile's national non-profit center for health information systems, established with ANID funding and hosted by five Chilean universities (Universidad de Chile, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Universidad de Valparaíso, and Universidad de Talca). The organization designs and implements high-volume health information systems, focusing on HL7 FHIR interoperability standards, AI-readiness data frameworks, telemedicine, shared clinical records, and terminological services. Its technical portfolio includes the Telekit Prototype (an Android app connecting Bluetooth medical devices to HL7 FHIR-compliant electronic health records, developed with PAHO/WHO), the Digital Health Competencies Model 2.0 (4 roles, 8 domains, 104 competencies), and certification seals (Sello de Calidad de Software en Salud, Sello de Calidad de Telemedicina). CENS also operates the ECO-SD (Ecosistema de Innovación en Salud Digital) — a 1,000+ participant collaboration network with PAHO/WHO, the Chilean Ministry of Health, and Deep Ecosystems — and runs the Juégatela por la Innovación open-innovation program that matched 15 healthcare institutions with 16 startups in its second edition.

CENS's business model is non-commercial: it is primarily funded by Chilean government grants (ANID, CORFO) and university contributions, supplemented by fee-based training courses (HL7 FHIR courses at CLP $600,000 per seat), tailored advisory services for healthcare institutions, certification/seal fees for software vendors, and pilot co-funding (e.g., up to CLP $2M per innovation challenge winner). The go-to-market is relationship-driven and field-based, anchored by multi-year formal collaboration agreements with regional health services (Magallanes, Coquimbo) and direct engagement with public hospitals, private healthcare providers, and international bodies like PAHO/WHO. The customer base is exclusively Chilean public-sector healthcare organizations, with adjacent exposure to academic institutions and health technology developers. CENS was instrumental in shaping Chile's health data interoperability law (Law 21.668), and in January 2026 its Executive Director May Chomali was appointed as Chile's Minister of Health, with Alejandra García (Subdirectora de Innovación) assuming interim leadership.

Name

CENS

Legal name

Centro Nacional en Sistemas de Información en Salud

Website

https://cens.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CENS is Chile's national non-profit center for health information systems, providing HL7 FHIR interoperability standards, training, certifications, and an innovation ecosystem (ECO-SD) that serves public hospitals, regional health services, the Ministry of Health, universities, and health technology developers across Chile and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Health Interoperability Services

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Other Computer Related Services (541519)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual Care Team Collaboration & Provider-to-Provider Teleconsult Platforms (eConsults) (HLALABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Patient Engagement, Education & Messaging Platforms (portal/CRM integrated) (HLALABAJ), Certification & Licensing Exam Management Platforms (EDAFADAG)

Keywords

• Health information systems
• Digital health interoperability
• HL7 FHIR training
• Health software certification
• Telemedicine integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Santiago

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Training Courses and Workshops: CENS generates revenue through fee-based professional training programs including HL7 FHIR courses (Introductory and Intermediate levels), priced at CLP $600,000 per course, with additional discounts for member institutions.
2. Advisory Services: CENS provides customized consulting services tailored to specific organizational challenges in digital health, interoperability, and health information systems.
3. Certifications and Seals: CENS offers software certification services including the Sello de Calidad de Software en Salud (Health Software Quality Seal) and Sello de Calidad de Telemedicina (Telemedicine Quality Seal), certifying both software products and professional profiles.
4. Public Funding and Grants: CENS receives funding from government entities including ANID (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo) and is supported by CORFO for innovation programs. The organization is hosted by Chilean universities including Universidad de Chile, Universidad Católica, Universidad de Concepción, Universidad de Valparaíso, and Universidad de Talca.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CENS provides digital health transformation services for Chile's healthcare ecosystem, including HL7 FHIR professional training courses, software and telemedicine quality certification seals (Sellos de Calidad), customized advisory services in interoperability and digital maturity, and management of the ECO-SD innovation ecosystem that matches public health institutions with technology startups. The center also produces public-good resources such as competency models, data governance guides, and technical frameworks, and develops interoperability prototypes such as the Telekit remote monitoring integration tool.

Product overview

CENS (Centro Nacional en Sistemas de Información en Salud) operates as a national coordination center rather than a traditional software product company. Its portfolio consists of advisory and consulting services (Asesorías), professional training programs (Cursos y Talleres including HL7 FHIR certification courses), quality certification seals (Sellos y Certificaciones), and the Digital Health Innovation Ecosystem (ECO-SD) platform for open innovation. Key technical offerings include the Telekit Prototype for remote monitoring integrated with HL7 FHIR standards, the Digital Health Competencies Model 2.0 framework, and Public Goods including guides and recommendations. The organization also manages the 'Juégatela por la Innovación' open innovation matching program. These offerings are interconnected: training builds human capital, certifications validate solutions, the innovation ecosystem facilitates collaboration, and technical resources support implementation across Chile's digital health ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advisory Services (Asesorías) Personalized consulting services tailored to address specific digital health challenges faced by healthcare institutions, focusing on interoperability, data quality, and digital transformation strategies.
• HL7 FHIR Training Courses and Workshops (Cursos y Talleres) Professional development programs including a three-part HL7 FHIR training series (Introductory, Intermediate, Advanced levels), covering interoperability standards, implementation methodologies, and practical exercises using FHIR resources. The 2026 Intermediate Course runs 54 hours of blended learning with 50 spots at CLP $600,000.
• Quality Certification Seals (Sellos y Certificaciones) Certification services including the Software Quality Seal in Health (Sello de Calidad de Software en Salud) and Telemedicine Quality Seal (Sello de Calidad de Telemedicina), validating technical quality and processes of digital health solutions and certifying professional profiles.
• Digital Health Innovation Ecosystem (ECO-SD) Collaborative network uniting public, private, academic, and healthcare actors for co-creation of digital health solutions, open innovation challenges, matchmaking between health institutions and tech startups, and acceleration of digital transformation initiatives. Operates the eco-sd.cl platform and annual ECO-SD encounter.
• Telekit Prototype (Telemedicine Remote Monitoring) Remote monitoring device kit integrated with an Android application that captures vital signs via Bluetooth, transforms data to HL7 FHIR standard, and transmits to electronic health record systems for telehealth applications. Developed in collaboration with PAHO/WHO.
• Public Goods (Bienes Públicos) Technical resources including guides, models, and recommendations for practical implementation in institutions: Citizen Manifesto for Digital Health, Data Privacy and Security Guide, Good Practices Guide for Innovation in Health, and various technical documentation.
• Juégatela por la Innovación Program Open innovation program matching public health institutions with startups and tech companies to pilot solutions for real healthcare challenges, including phases of training, challenge identification, solution matching, and pilot implementation. Co-led with Pro Salud Chile and supported by CORFO.

Quantifiable outcome

• Healthcare institutions reduced stock outages from 80% to 12% through innovation program participation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and flagship.

• OPS/OMS (Organización Panamericana de la Salud / Organización Mundial de la Salud)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026CENS presented a joint prototype with PAHO/WHO connecting remote monitoring telekits with electronic health records in real time using HL7 FHIR standards. The collaboration aims to strengthen telesalud and advance toward more connected and integrated health ecosystems. Giovanni Escalante, PAHO/WHO Representative in Chile, highlighted this as a critical step in moving from fragmented solutions to truly integrated health systems.
• Universidad de ChilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversidad de Chile is a founding host institution of CENS, collaborating on research, innovation, and digital health transformation. The university co-organizes the ECO-SD encounter and contributes academic expertise through programs including the Digital Health Innovation Challenge.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversidad Católica is one of the founding university hosts of CENS, contributing academic resources, research capacity, and institutional infrastructure to support the center's digital health mission.
• Universidad de ConcepcióncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversidad de Concepción is a founding host institution of CENS, participating in collaborative digital health research and education initiatives.
• Universidad de ValparaísocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversidad de Valparaíso is a founding host institution of CENS, contributing to the center's educational and research programs in digital health.
• Universidad de TalcacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversidad de Talca is a founding host institution of CENS and contributes academic expertise through Dr. Sergio Guiñez-Molinos who serves on the HL7 FHIR course academic committee.
• Pro Salud ChilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro Salud Chile is a core strategic partner co-leading the 'Juégatela por la Innovación e Impulsa el Cambio en Salud' program alongside CENS. The organization represents private healthcare providers and facilitates public-private collaboration in digital health innovation.
• Deep EcosystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeep Ecosystems co-leads the ECO-SD (Ecosistema de Innovación en Salud Digital) with CENS, providing ecosystem development methodology and international connections. Harald Eisenhauer, co-founder and head of accelerator at Deep Ecosystems, participated as a keynote speaker at ECO-SD 2025.
• Duoc UCsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDuoc UC served as the venue host and collaborator for the ECO-SD 2025 encounter, providing physical facilities and institutional support for the event.
• Servicio de Salud MagallanesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCENS and Servicio de Salud Magallanes signed a formal collaboration agreement focused on optimizing health information management through interoperability, improving clinical record quality, reducing wait times, and promoting more efficient and safer patient care. The agreement includes data quality measurement, privacy and security training, specialized human capital formation, and implementation of innovation best practices.
• Servicio de Salud CoquimboflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCENS and Servicio de Salud Coquimbo signed a two-year collaboration agreement covering digital maturity assessment, information systems evaluation, specialized team training, innovation methodology implementation, interoperability standards, and data quality and security best practices. The agreement enables joint project design and execution through specific annexes tailored to regional healthcare network needs.
• Fundación Movimiento SaludcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCENS and Fundación Movimiento Salud are jointly developing a document on health data governance titled 'Gobernanza de datos en salud: definiciones, recomendaciones y buenas prácticas para su implementación en instituciones prestadoras de salud.' The initiative brings together public, private, academic, and civil society actors including patient organizations to establish good practices for safe, transparent, and efficient health data use.
• Ministerio de Salud de Chile (MINSAL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMINSAL serves as an endorsing and supporting partner for CENS-led programs including 'Juégatela por la Innovación' and ECO-SD. The ministry's participation in the launch events, with Ministers Ximena Aguilera and Aysén Etcheverry present, demonstrates high-level government alignment with CENS initiatives.
• Ecosistema de Innovación en Salud Digital (ECO-SD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECO-SD is a collaborative innovation ecosystem led by CENS and Deep Ecosystems that brings together public providers, private companies, startups, universities, and patient associations to co-create digital health solutions. The ecosystem operates the matching platform eco-sd.cl and organizes the annual ECO-SD encounter.
• AIDA GroupsupportingTechnology or IntegrationAIDA Group won the ECO-SD 2025 Open Innovation Challenge together with CRS Cordillera Oriente, developing an AI-powered solution integrated with hospital scheduling systems and WhatsApp to send exam preparation reminders and reduce sample rejections by 20-30%. CENS is providing up to $2 million in funding to implement the pilot.
• Cero.aisupportingTechnology or IntegrationCero.ai, led by CPO Jorge Pérez (ex-academic at U. de Chile), is a technology partner in the innovation ecosystem that has achieved interoperability with over 60% of Chile's high-complexity public hospitals and 300+ healthcare centers in Latin America, demonstrating CENS ecosystem impact.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society): Global not-for-profit health IT membership organization that, like CENS, drives digital health adoption through education, certification, events, and standards advocacy. CENS operates as a HIMSS-equivalent national center for Chile, providing comparable training, conferences, and ecosystem coordination functions at a country scale.
• AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association): US-based professional association for health informatics that advances the field through education, workforce development, and competency frameworks. CENS's Digital Health Competencies Model 2.0 and HL7 FHIR training mirror AMIA's role in defining health informatics competencies and professional certification.

Direct peers

• IHE International (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise): Global initiative promoting the coordinated use of established standards like HL7 FHIR for seamless health information exchange. CENS's interoperability projects and HL7 FHIR methodology directly align with IHE's integration profiles and implementation frameworks.
• SNOMED International: Not-for-profit standards body governing SNOMED CT clinical terminology. CENS references SNOMED and terminological services in its FHIR curriculum and interoperability framework, making SNOMED International a direct peer in the health data standards ecosystem.
• HL7 International: The global authority on health interoperability standards (including HL7 FHIR, which CENS trains on) and a not-for-profit standards organization. CENS functions as a national implementation, training, and certification arm aligned with HL7 FHIR, making HL7 International the closest direct peer in mission and methodology.

Emerging players

• Health Data Research UK: UK-based national institute coordinating health data research and interoperability across institutions. Comparable to CENS as a national coordination center for health data, although operating in a more mature market with different funding structures and scope.

Others

• PAHO/WHO Digital Health Unit: The Pan American Health Organization's digital health unit collaborates directly with CENS on LACPASS and joint prototypes. As a strategic ecosystem partner and policy authority, PAHO/WHO shapes the same interoperability agenda that CENS executes at the national level.

Regional players

• Health Level Seven Argentina (HL7 Argentina): National HL7 affiliate promoting interoperability standards adoption in Argentina's healthcare system. As a regional peer with similar HL7 FHIR training, certification, and ecosystem-building activities, it competes for the same LatAm digital health standards authority that CENS seeks to lead.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/censchile
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/CENSChile
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cens-chile
• Instagraminstagram.com/cens_chile

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CENS