What is the health reform proposed by Gustavo Petro?


After a series of controversies, the Government of Gustavo Petro presented last February 14 a series of reforms to the Colombian health system, made up of 152 articles, which, according to the president, are mainly sought bring health care to all corners of the country, strengthen primary care and disease prevention.

However, the opposition force to the Petro government has expressed its refusal, since the initiative “it would endanger the current health system“because the changes would be very expensive and would mean a complex transition.

Demonstrations in Colombia. Photo: AFP

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What is the health reform proposed by Petro in Colombia?

The controversial health reform project, which has caused mobilizations for and against the president Gustavo Petroit will consist in guarantee the fundamental right to health through a single, public, universal, preventive, predictive, participatory, decentralized, and intercultural system that does not depend on ability to pay, economic profitability, or administrative and financial intermediation.

Key points to the 2023 health reform

The health minister from Colombia, Carolina Corkhas indicated to the media that this project, which must first pass through Congress, has 18 chapters and 150 articles, among which are five structural changes to the health system.

Petro and his health reform. Photo: The San Diego Union-Tribune

Principle of universality

It is sought that all citizens, without distinction, have access to health, even those who do not have “a membership card”. The Primary Care Centers would be in charge of this organization, whose main function will be to organize “the territory in an average of 25,000 people for each one” and which will be distributed according to the place of residence or work.

Preventive and Predictive System

The Petro reform seeks to the health system is “preventive and predictive” to “guarantee the quality of life of Colombians.” This will be included in mental health care, as well as the timely diagnosis of diseases.

Resources to ensure sustainability

This project establishes that the budget for financing health comes from citizens, but also from the Statewhich would remove the power of the Health Promotion Entities (EPS)which are the intermediaries between taxpayers and those who provide the service.

For this reason, the Administrator of the Resources of the General System of Social Security in Health (Adres) will be strengthened, which will become a “single payer” during the transition to the new system.

The reform seeks to make the health system universal in Colombia. Photo: AFP

Dignify workers in the sector

The reform indicates that it seeks to provide specialists with “medical autonomy and self-regulation, with ethics and scientific evidence.” That’s why I know It will also improve their working conditions. by encouraging them to continue educating and updating in their fields of health.

Technical support

The health reform in Colombia had and would continue to have the technical support of a commission of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)who recommended that the State “retakes” the reins of the sectorbut without making a “180 degree turn”.

The health reform in Colombia seeks to improve the condition of doctors in the country. Photo: AFP

Pros and cons of health reform

The opposition points out that this “revolt in the health system” would generate a service impairment and greater problems in care, since the State would not be prepared to take charge in its entirety. In this way, the medium infobae collects that Colombians, like the dentist Jorge Garciaindicate that, despite the weaknesses of the current medical system, it still works.

“We went from having a very limited system in its resources —human talent, coverage and budget— to a modern one —with suitable and qualified human talent, which has high standards and is recognized throughout the world—. But this health reform wants to change what is well doneGarcia emphasized.

Demonstrator in Colombia for health reforms. Photo: EFE

For its part, the group that is in favor of a change points out that this process is necessary because the Health Provider Entities (EPS) have not been doing an adequate job, alleging that citizens’ resources are being wasted.

“Law 100 created the EPS, which are nothing more than intermediaries that keep more than half of the budget allocated to health in Colombia, causing the biggest crisis that affects the system: illiquidity. At the time heMost public hospitals are in total bankruptcy and abandonmentemployees continue to be subcontracted and find themselves in chaotic working conditions, not to mention the service provided to users,” argued the teacher Rocio Rojas.

Source-larepublica.pe