[Technical cooperation for health between Colombia and bordering countries].

Objective: Characterize the technical cooperation of Colombia with four bordering countries and determine the training needs of the binational technical groups (BTGs).

Methods: Qualitative investigation based on document review and information provided by key actors in this field. To explore training needs, a survey of Colombia-Ecuador BTGs was conducted. Further information was obtained through discussion groups. Deductive and inductive categorization techniques were applied, as well as convergence using the triangulation method.

Results: Eighteen agreements/conventions and the documentation from 12 borderarea health cooperation projects were obtained. The majority of the projects involved multilateral cooperation. The two priority cooperation topics were the International Health Regulations and Millennium Development Goals 6 and 7. The BTGs considered training in management, health diplomacy, and capacity-building necessary for cooperation in border areas.

Conclusions: The border areas exhibited complex intervention scenarios, where international law and foreign policy have defined cooperative actions. In determining the training for BTGs, the national and international regulatory framework and context of the border areas should be taken into account.