Bogota, December 12 (EFE). – The Attorney General’s Office (Public Ministry) warned this Friday that the Colombian health system is in “crisis” and the “progressive deterioration of its structure” is endangering the lives of citizens.
A report from that organization says there has been an “exponential increase in complaints, guardianships (claims for protection) and contempt by members” over the past two years.
This comes as the administration works in Congress on a healthcare reform that will see the transformation of Health Promotion Entities (EPS) into health and life managers who will, among other things, undertake administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments, delivering medicines and ensuring the quality and continuity of service.
Likewise, the Administrator of Resources of the General Health and Social Security System (Adres) is expected to assume responsibility for making direct payments to medical providers, from hospitals to health technology providers.
Currently, the Colombian health system is in crisis, as most private EPS are subject to government intervention due to their financial difficulties. The new reform aims to ensure that citizens have access to a comprehensive and integrated network of services.
In this sense, the Attorney General’s report indicates that the forced administrative intervention of the National Superintendency of Health (Supersalud) in nine EPS “has led to a deterioration of access conditions and financial sustainability in the cases analyzed”.
“In addition, the Attorney General’s Office has initiated preventive measures to review complaints about alleged medical services to deceased users and excessive costs of medicines, and warns of alleged disciplinary liability for acts and omissions in the functions of management, regulation, control and inspection, supervision and control that have undermined the conditions of the intervened EPSs,” the information continues.
In view of this whole situation, the State Ministry announced that it would “open new investigations against officials for acts and omissions in the functions of administration, regulation, inspection, supervision and control of the” health system. EFE
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