The discussion between the Ministry of Health and the unions surrounding the Capitation Payment Unit (UPC) continues, especially after the ministry reported that organizations such as the Colombian Association of Comprehensive Medicine Companies (Acemi) and the National Association of Businessmen of Colombia (Andi) were not present at the working table intended to discuss the UPC. This meeting was spearheaded following a ruling by the Constitutional Court that requires a dialogue between the national government and key players in the health sector to determine the level of resources that should be allocated to the system.
As the portfolio said in a statement, Both associations received formal notices with a date, time, location and agenda for a meeting scheduled for December 23, 2025.with the option of personal or virtual participation.
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“Among the invited entities were various organizations from the health sector, including delegates from AcemiI and Andi. The evidence shows that these entities received the subpoena in a timely manner and were fully aware of the meeting scheduled for today.“, details the portfolio.
Despite receiving the invitation, the representatives of the associations did not appear at the meeting, which caused annoyance to the Minister of Health Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo, who assured in the interview W radiothat “unions will withdraw from discussions if it is not in their favor.”
Andi’s president, Bruce Mac Master, commented on the matter via his X account, questioning the veracity of the call. He denied having received the invitation and referred directly to the department head’s statements.
“The minister is not just lying to us, he is lying to the country. All year long we have been asking to be invited to the UPC definition tables, which he never did until the Constitutional Court forced him to do so.” Now he’s releasing some invitations that were never sent. Today he says that us not showing up is nothing more than manipulation“, he claimed.
For its part, the Ministry of Health reported that the Directorate for the Regulation of Benefits, Costs and Rates of Health Insurance, subordinate to the Vice Ministry of Social Protection, sent the summons on December 19, 2025 to both Acemi and Andi in two ways: by email and certified correspondence 4-72. According to the portfolio, there is precise documentary evidence of delivery.
In its official communication, the Ministry of Health attached a screenshot of a subpoena letter that Andi sent to Anwar Rodríguez, delegate of the UPC working group, to assist with the subpoena of December 23, 2025.
“The corresponding letter of summons was sent to the Andi delegates in the same way, with a receipt left behind.. This contradicts the versions spread in some media that these entities were not invited,” he explained.
The presence of the organizations was crucial, considering that the meeting was intended to establish guidelines on the UPC, which have been heavily questioned and are necessary to ensure comprehensive care for members of the health system. However, the ministry said that the union representatives did not heed the request to discuss the issue.
In any case, Bruce Mac Master denied the allegations, accusing the portfolio of amassing public resources and warning that the consequences of the seemingly inadequate money management fall entirely on users.
“The minister has done nothing more than build economic and contractual power in a sector where more than $100 billion is transacted by road.. The use of these resources needs to be thoroughly examined…at the end of the day, only patients pay. In the end, only the lives of Colombians pay off,” said the union leader.
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