ABC of the health reform project: PE will not stop, the management of mental disorders and other key points will be reinforced

Monday, February 13, the health system reform project in Colombia was tabled before the Congress of the Republic. Led by President Gustavo Petro and the head of this portfolio, Carolina Corcho, the symbolic act of presentation to the public was carried out.

However, doubts remain about the articles which, according to the Minister, contain 18 chapters and 152 articles which detail how, if approved, the current model will be transformed to become preventive, so that, for example, a body doctor can go to a remote part of the country to treat those who live there.

Faced with these confusions that arose in the middle of the debate, the national government itself explained in nine points some of the key articles of this bill so that citizens understand the initiative beyond its bad disclosure by the executive. itself, in the sense that the document has not been made public in its entirety.

1. The bill takes into account that the change of model will be governed by the principle of universality; that is, everyone has the right to access the health system. “We are going to transform the system to cover the entire national territory, without exception, and include all citizens without the need to have a membership card”, expresses the national government in this regard.

2. As President Petro has mentioned on several occasions, the objective of the reform is that there is a change of model towards a preventive and predictive model. In the words of the executive, “this involves guaranteeing the quality of life of Colombians to comprehensively cover all the factors that affect their health.” This includes mental health care and timely disease surveillance.

3. Closing social and territorial gaps: the reform project aims to ensure that all members of the same family benefit from the advantages offered by the health system in an equal and equitable manner. For this reason, the construction of Primary care centers —CAP— which will not only be in charge of caring for the sick, but will have the function of organizing the territories of around 25,000 people.

“Thus, the medical teams will permanently, routinely and constantly visit the families of the said territory, wherever they are,” underlines the central government.

4. The Adres system will be strengthened: One of the articles on which Minister Corcho insisted in the filing of the reform project, this initiative aims to strengthen the administrator of the resources of the general health social security system so that it becomes a single payer. On the other hand, the EPS which are or are in liquidation will be deleted; inasmuch as those whose financial statements are optimal will not be eliminatedbut they will receive their patients gradually.

It also offers revitalize the New EPS “to cover the territories which, due to the liquidation of certain EPS, find themselves without the said insurance.” The Government also emphasizes that the health promoting entities that adhere to the new system will have all the guarantees of operation and development of their corporate purpose as auditors of collection at Addresses -or IPS-.

5. Mixed CAP model: these centers will operate through private and public entities. It also includes the establishment of integrated health networks, such as outpatient, hospitalization, medical and dental emergencies, rehabilitation, public health surveillance, diagnostic services and laboratories, among others.

6. Significance of medical personnel, not just in terms of salaries: the reform, if approved in the House and the Senate, proposes that the country’s doctors regain their autonomy as professionals and self-regulation based on scientific evidence and ethics. The project also puts on the table the option of including criteria to improve working conditions “with stability and ease to increase their knowledge and guarantee continuous training and updating for all staff, especially those who are in the territories”, specifies the government. .

In the same way, mechanisms will be created for the recertification of all medical personnel in order to guarantee “always an updated and quality service”.

7. According to the Petro administration, the article has the support from the World Health Organization —WHO— and the Pan American Health Organization —PAHO— since August 2022, when the new government was installed. In this regard, they take as an example the successful model “and international recognition” like that of South Korea “and complete its opportunities for improvement with respect to the Colombian reality”.

8. Programs prepaid drugs and supplemental plans will not be phased outthey will continue to operate normally and will not be affected if the legislator approves the reform.

9. Finally, the government specifies that the initiative “is based on what has been built”. They specify that the best of the current system will be taken and, to this extent, they will require the private sector to provide the service, especially in hospitals and clinics.

“During the transition, no patient currently in care or undergoing very complex treatment will be covered: this is how the project envisages it,” specifies the national government.

See below the full text of the health reform bill presented to the Congress of the Republic: