The new president of Fasecolda must fight against fraud in Soat

At the February board meeting, the Federation of Colombian Insurers (Fasecolda) chose the lawyer Gustavo Morales Cobo as the union’s new CEO.

Morales Cobo has over 30 years of professional experience and held various positions in the public sector, among which stand out: auxiliary magistrate of the Constitutional Court, private secretary of the Ministry of Finance, adviser to the legislative unit, legal officer of the Ministry of Transport and the National Planning Department, and superintendent of health.

In the trade union sector, he was Executive Vice President of Fasecolda, Vice President of the Chamber of Infrastructure, Vice President of the Colombian Oil and Gas Association (ACP)President of the Association of Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories (Aphid) and President of the Colombian Association of Global Medicine Companies (Novice).

He also has experience as university professormainly at the Universidad de los Andes, in the subjects of constitutional law, legal theory, legal sociology and social security law.

substitute at the office Miguel Gomez Martinezwho resigned in December 2022 and before his departure, in September 2022 during the International Insurance Convention, denounced that by Hour (compulsory traffic accident insurance) fraud kills him.

Gómez Martínez mentioned in a press conference that fraud kills Soat because, since insurance companies are the best payers of the health care system, some providers inflate casualty care to the limits allowed by coverage. He also indicated that in July 2022, the insurance sector had a production of $23.4 billion in premiumswhich represents a variation of 20% compared to July 2021.

“The scourge of fraud also affects the insurance sector. We collaborate with the Attorney General’s Office, the Colombian Association of Banking and Financial Institutions (Asobancaria) and the Financial Superintendence, because fraud and fraud are on the agenda. For this reason, we always recommend that you go through authorized insurance channels,” the executive noted.

Also, he said escape is a big deal, because Of the 17.6 million vehicles in the country, 47% do not have a Soat. Likewise, there are 10.4 million motorcycles in Colombia, 61% of which do not have a Soat.

“The accident is experiencing an explosion. In this sense, the figures are worrying, since in July there were 440,000 injured in the streets and highways of the country and everything indicates that we will end the year with 900,000 injured. Before the pandemic, there were 700,000 injuries per year. Meanwhile, in July, there were 4,400 deaths and everything indicates that we will end 2022 with 9,000 deaths,” he lamented, pointing out that 87% of deaths and injuries are linked to accidents involving a motorcycle. .

He said the motorbike it is a tool of transport for millions of people who do not find an efficient and dignified public service, a reality that has not been accompanied by the State, since it has not taught the motorcyclist to drive his vehicle and to behave as a prudent and responsible driver.

He assured that it is a real national drama and that it became a matter of public healththat goes beyond the insurance sector.

“It is worrying that this year a million new motorcycles are sold, of which 218,000 will have an accident in the first year,” he warned.

Regarding fraud, he also said that Soat works so well that many people want to use it for what it is not.

“There are cost overruns, double charges. There are people who have accidents at home and who charge as if it were a traffic accident, ”added Gómez Martínez.

He said that the insurance industry has denounced that there have been frauds for more than $440,000 million and these three evils put him in a critical situation.