During a press conference that took place in the city of Pasto, The Minister of Health, Carolina Corcho, gave new details about the health system reform project, which is expected to be filed in Congress next February.
The official began by saying that with this bill they only seek to modify a part of Law 100. She pointed out that it had been an achievement of the State to guarantee that the health system is financed with public money, which today corresponds to more than seven points of the product gross domestic (GDP).
But He indicated that what they seek to modify with their reform is specifically the way in which money from the health sector is administered. In fact, one of his arguments points to the fact that “the intermediation of the health system must be overcome”, referring to the management of resources by the EPS.
As Corcho indicated during his speech, the EPS that have already been liquidated owed health providers close to 27 billion pesos, the EPS that are still in the liquidation process owe more than 5 billion pesos and the EPS that are in operation they owe close to 16.6 trillion pesos.
And he reiterated that only seven of the 30 EPS that are currently operating meet the financial indicators set by the Superintendency of Health. He pointed out that the constant liquidation of the EPS is causing a crisis in the health system. “It is not necessary to continue subjecting citizens to these conditions for continuing to insist on a model that has already shown its limits,” warned Minister Corcho.
He said that the EPS are being proposed to assume that the health system requires a change of model. “Gentlemen, let’s no longer adore the ashes,” Corcho said. “Let’s propose a transition between all of us to gradually clear the EPS and clear up the debts with the clinics and hospitals”he added. And he recalled that his proposal aims for the EPS to become health service provider networks.
According to what he said, they would use the Administrator of the Resources of the General System of Social Security in Health (Adres) to pay directly to hospitals and clinics. But she acknowledged that this will require the ADRES to undergo a decentralization process.
“Citizens have to be registered in their territory and the State must give the resources to clinics and hospitals to care for them, that is logical”the official pointed out.
“Colombia has shameful maternal mortality rates,” added Corcho. And he said that more than 600 municipalities in Colombia do not have a health center. He argued that, to that extent, resources must be decentralized and there must be better investment in the regions.
Corcho said he hopes the Superintendency of Health will also be modified to “give it teeth” and said he hopes the superintendent will be appointed through a “meritocratic” process.
Does the idea of becoming EPS health provider networks sound familiar to you?
The national government has had several disagreements with the EPS precisely because they are proposing that they disappear as actors in the health system. Paula Acosta, executive president of the Colombian Association of Comprehensive Medicine Companies (Acemi) -a union that brings together 11 EPS-, warned that for now she has not had a space for conversation with Minister Corcho to talk in detail about the reform to the Health.
Regarding the possibility of becoming health service delivery networks, Acosta told the media that they hope to reach agreements with the Ministry of Health.
“We understand that this is an initial proposal from the Government, but in a consensus process like the one proposed by President Gustavo Petro, the point of arrival will be another. Of course, there is value in networking, but the work of the EPS goes far beyond being providers. The EPS have the role of insurers, of health risk management, of financial protection for the pocket of Colombians”, Acosta concluded.