Colombia’s Health System in Crisis as Leading EPS Withdraws Services

Colombia’s healthcare system is in turmoil as EPS (Health Promoting Entity) Sura, one of the major health service providers in the country, announced their withdrawal from the sector on Tuesday. The decision has sparked widespread concern as it highlights the deep crisis plaguing the country’s healthcare system. The withdrawal of EPS Sura, along with the lack of response from the government, has left many wondering about the future of healthcare in Colombia.

The main reason for EPS Sura’s withdrawal is the insufficient funding recognized by the government for its services. As a result, the company has been struggling with mounting debts and decapitalization. Despite several warnings from EPS Sura and other providers, the government has not taken concrete steps to address the problem.

With EPS Sura’s exit from the health sector, the provision of health services in Colombia is in a critical state. With this decision, EPS Sura will now focus solely on providing prepaid medicine services, leaving the provision of health services in the country in a critical state. The company has requested a progressive dismantling program from the National Health Superintendence to ensure an orderly and responsible exit. However, the impact of this decision will be felt by millions of Colombians who rely on EPS Sura for their healthcare needs.

The news of EPS Sura’s withdrawal has caused outrage among Colombians, with many placing the blame on the government. Former Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria has criticized the government for ignoring the warnings and delaying action, leading to this dire situation. Gaviria also condemned the government’s attempts at healthcare reform, calling it “meaningless” and stating that it has only worsened the already existing crisis.

This situation calls for urgent action from the government to address the longstanding issues in the health system. The current crisis not only affects the wellbeing of millions of Colombians, but it also threatens to undermine one of the country’s greatest social advancements.

With information from Semana