Health reform: a disaster

Everything has been seen in the health reform process. House Circus with clowns performing an impromptu show. The clowns of circumstances make way for the organization of a quorum. The governors, by their presence, normalize the plenary session and then fail to adhere to it at the next session.

What a bad example of excessive citizen composure; They do not know what the current health situation is, and they discuss the new reform without further arguments.
Of course there are serious figures in the Congress of the Republic who, with their critical stance and seriousness, offer thoughtful reflection that informs and feeds the debates.

And who turned out to be a good rooster is the Minister of Health. He forgot that he came from a mediator and a victor over consensus, but rather became a real troublemaker. He insults the Greens because the positions do not give him the strength to defend reform. He abuses intensive care units, complains about vaccines and says Colombian patients were guinea pigs. Discuss with EPS and request an audit audit; She labels Treasury reports as false and quarrelsome and maintains a stressful environment in which high concentrations of glucocorticoids are released. As damaging as the previous minister, but with a greater emotional burden, he made agreements difficult.

The noble essence of reform has turned into an electoral and bureaucratic strategy. How many people are needed to implement it? Their number is estimated at 100,000, and these will be the promoters of the elections in 2026. Their cost: 70 billion pesos, which appears to be directed to expanding hospitals, health centers, health secretariats, and insurance companies.

It seems that Law No. 1751 of 2015, which affirms health as a basic right, has fallen into a deep coma. We are 130,000 health professionals, and 6,000 new doctors graduate every year, 76% of whom graduate from private schools. But there is no talk of the new leadership the doctor will need or the ethical regulations that must accompany his mission. Instead, amendments to Article 42 are being discussed, which come with a great deal of political maneuvering, to give mayors and governors the power to intervene in the administrative management of hospitals, and to choose their directors.

Also, the financial study for the reform is not known precisely: the financial estimate only allows speculation. The UPC unit is insufficient, which is why EPS has had to take resources from its savings to survive. There is already a perception of supply shortages in the environment and suppliers are starting to rotate. When will they catch up with EPS? 85 percent payment has already been approved without audit. Only 15% will be subject to review (with what guarantees?). Bankruptcy is coming.

We had high hopes: prevention and primary care in every corner of the country. Health for all without discrimination. Prenatal care and vaccination schedule for Colombian children. Caring for the elderly, especially those living in rural areas. We longed for a single information system that would jealously guard everyone’s clinical data.

How will primary care be strengthened? Human talent in health should be strengthened, and the 100,000 Colombian doctors should feel supported by the government… and a state policy should be established for these professionals. But it appears that specializations will remain narrow and closed, with admission bias and restricted access. How and where will new talents be trained to be in charge of the regional areas? How will these integration pathways be organized so that our patients do not suffer? Medicines, homes, and chronic disease care…suspicions. There are a lot of questions and few answers.

diphthong: Prevention should be the key, and to do this well there is no need for these distractions from the state. It is on this spectrum of prevention that vaccines fall: a milestone in public health that has proven useful for many years. Now in question.