The situation of the health system in Colombia continues to take on a tinge of uncertainty due to the decision to increase the Capitation Payment Unit (UPC). On this occasion, the president of the Colombian Association of Comprehensive Medicine Companies (Acemi), Ana María Vesga, He assured that UPC 2025 puts the “health and lives of patients” at risk.
(See more: 5.36% increase in UPC deepens health crisis and aggravates impacts on patients)
Specifically, he explained that an increase of 5.36%, the one decided by the Government, It lacks a technical reason, it is inconsistent with the increase in the minimum wage and it is contradictory because more than half of the information required for its calculation had to be provided by EPS under state intervention.
“There simply will not be enough money to cover the care of Colombians. It is essential to review your calculation, reproduce and make the exercise public and proceed with the readjustment. The deficit by 2025 will be $9 trillion according to Acemi calculations“said the president of the union.
(Read: Uncertainty in the health system by UPC calculation)
Now, another of the health sectors that have spoken are public hospitals. According to the Colombian Association of State Social Enterprises and Public Hospitals (Acesi), The UPC adjustment is insufficient to cover the increase in the minimum wage established at 9.54%.
“This situation generates a critical impact on the country’s public hospitals, whose financial sustainability depends, to a large extent, on their ability to cover labor costs, which represent up to 70% of their operating budgets.“, they indicated.
(See more: Adres is preparing measures to regulate accident claims without Soat)
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According to the union, this situation, It is aggravated by the irregular flow of resources from the EPS to the State Social Enterprises (ESE).a constant that has compromised the stability of the public health system.
“This lack of timely and complete payment compliance places the continuity of the provision of essential services at serious risk, directly affecting the most vulnerable population in the country.”, they explain.
(See also: In November, Adres transferred $6.88 billion to the health system: this is how the accounts go)
Additionally, the union considered that it is essential that the Government, together with health service providers, make a more precise estimate of the real operating costs, considering the increase in demand for services and the increasing associated costs.
Given this situation, Andrés Vecino, associate professor at Johns Hopkins University, pointed out on his social networks that paradoxically the new UPC will particularly hit public hospitals. “Their plant is much less flexible and they must, by law, increase their salary to the legal minimum (9.5%) with only an increase in their income of 5.36%, different from private IPS”, he noted.
(Read: Acemi says that the quality of health services requires a well-adjusted UPC)
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What does the Government say?
The Vice Minister of Social Protection, Luis Alberto Martínezreported that the Capitation Payment Unit (UPC) for the year 2025 has been the subject of a rigorous analysis due to various inconsistencies in the information reported by the EPS to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.
(See more: Health reform: implications of considering it a statutory law)
This mechanism, fundamental for the financing of the health system, faces a series of challenges this year that have generated uncertainty and key decisions by the authorities.
“Unfortunately, this year this information presents serious inconsistencies. There is an abrupt, unusual growth in the values and frequencies of use, which is not consistent with either historical data or the epidemiological profile of the country. Likewise, EPS that certified the expense have not yet financially closed the year 2023“explained the vice minister.
Another critical aspect identified is the payment of medicines at prices higher than those established in price control, a fact that contravenes current regulations and increases uncertainty about the management of resources.
(Read: ‘We need spaces where health system actors have a voice’: Abbvie)
Faced with this panorama, the official said that the Advisory Commission on Benefits, Costs and Rates of Insurance recommended to the Ministry of Health that the UPC adjustment be established close to the consumer price index (5.2%). However, after an additional analysis, an increase of 5.36% was decided, with the purpose of including two additional services in the benefit plan.
