The group of Spanish originl Keralty, owner of the health promotion entity (EPS) Sanitas, intervened in April 2024 by the National Government, resorted to “international bodies“to resolve that dispute that, according to him, affects your financial situation and the provision of your services.
This is what they stated, this Thursday, January 23, the shareholders of the Keralty group in a statement in which they point out that the measures taken by the Government “constitute arbitrary, discriminatory and unfair treatment, which has resulted in the destruction of the economic value of EPS Sanitas, to the detriment of its shareholders, collaborators, and Colombian society in general.“.
(See: Adres sends information contrast exercise to Comptroller’s Office based on UPC calculation).
For this reason, and given the difficulties in reaching a “friendly resolution” of the dispute, the business group, that last April he had already filed a criminal complaint against the then Colombian health superintendent, Luis Carlos Leal, for the Government’s intervention in Sanitas, took the case to the international sphere.
“To the extent that all the efforts made by the shareholders of the Keralty group were fruitless (…) they were forced to resort to the corresponding international bodies in search of justice and compensation for the damages caused by the Colombian State“.
Keralty does not give details of this lawsuit, but the newspaper EL TIEMPO pointed out that the company’s shareholders presented it last Tuesday, January 21 before the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), claiming that The intervention violates the agreement for the reciprocal protection of investments existing between Spain and Colombia.
(See: Compensar EPS will not completely leave the health system and will only work in Bogotá).
For this reason, Keralty’s shareholders, who are Centauro Capital (61%) and Natanor XXI (39%), They demand 1.2 billion dollars from the Colombian State.
EPS Sanitas.
Health compensation money
Keralty noted in the statement that they would allocate “the total compensation obtained in international instances to repair the very serious damage caused by the Colombian State to the health system by strengthening EPS Sanitas with said resources“.
“Among others, this would result in strengthening the company’s operations, protecting the jobs of our collaborators, guaranteeing the quality of care for our users and safeguarding the sustainability and equity value of the company.“added the company.
(See: Minsalud issues resolution that changes the methodology of maximum budgets).
On April 2 of last year, the Superintendence of Health of Colombia ordered the intervention for a period of one year by Sanitas, alleging alleged insolvency of the company, which has 5.8 million members in Colombia, and debts of more than two billion Colombian pesos (about 471 million dollars today).
However, Keralty maintains that the financial problems of the EPS are caused by the Government itself, confronted with companies in the sector and determined to carry out a health reform, criticized even by medical organizations because they believe that it will worsen the situation.
(See: These are the new Sanitas dispensers: how to claim your medications?).
Health finances
That position was reiterated in this Thursday’s statement in which Keralty points out that “In recent years, the Colombian State has repeatedly failed to comply with multiple commitments to EPS Sanitas under the health system and international law, including its obligation to guarantee the financial sufficiency of the health system.“.
Keralty added that “the forced and unjustified intervention of EPS Sanitas“aggravates”both the financial situation of the company and the provision of services to its affiliates“.
(See: Sanitas will not be the only EPS to which Cruz Verde will stop dispensing medications).
“We will continue working to guarantee a fair, sustainable health system focused on the needs of those who need it most, reaffirming the Keralty group’s role as a responsible actor in the development of the country.“added the information.
EFE
