After the pronouncement of the Constitutional Court on the right to access to medicines, The Ministry of Health and Social Protection said that in Colombia there is no generalized shortage of drugs and that currently developed coordinated actions with the pharmaceutical industry and other system actors to address the difficulties in its distribution.
The health portfolio explained that specific strategies have been adopted to guarantee availability, even in high -cost treatments and rare or chronic diseases.
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“Mechanisms such as centralized purchase for orphan diseases have been implemented, the distribution of 819,346 DLT bottles for HIV treatment, support for strategic medication development projects and the impulse to the national production of biological production against biologicals against biologicals against biologicals against biologicals against biological”Said the ministry.
To these measures was added the expedition of Resolution 1809 of 2025, which seeks to strengthen pharmaceutical surveillance in the country. In the same way, A public consultation board was created with updated information on EPS reports and pharmaceutical managers. The system, which includes figures until August 2025, allows citizens to monitor the availability of medicines in Colombia.
The Ministry added that the actions are not limited to its direct management, since there is a joint work with other state entities. Among them he mentioned the Invima, the National Superintendence of Health, the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce, the National Narcotics Fund and the Ombudsman, organizations that accompany the attention of alerts and difficulties in the delivery of medicines.
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The Invima resolved 23,229 drug procedures between November 2023 and September 2025.
Istock
In relation to the regulatory procedures, the Invima reported advances against accumulated lag. “Of the 26,049 pending procedures in November 2023, 23,229 were already resolved within the Urgent Supply Plan, with September 23, 2025 cutting”, The entity reported. The Plan prioritized the procedures associated with medicines in shortage or at risk of being, which included the streamlining of visits to production plants, import authorizations and manufacturers changes.
However, the health authority clarified that the resolution of procedures does not automatically guarantee the presence of the medicine in the market, since the final delivery depends on commercial decisions of manufacturers and importers.
The Ministry also reported that the administrator of the resources of the General System of Social Security in Health (ADRES) has strengthened the audit processes and the direct turn mechanism, which has significantly reduced the payment and recognition times to the different health system actors.
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In 2023 there were 26,049 pending procedures, of which more than 89 % already managed.
Istock
The health portfolio insisted that, although challenges persist in the administrative and financial sphere that can affect the opportunity in the delivery of treatments, one cannot speak of a shortage crisis. “The Ministry of Health and Social Protection reaffirms its commitment to the right to health and timely access to medicines, as established by the Constitution”He said in the statement.
The pronouncement occurs in a context of growing concern on the part of patients and organizations of the sector, which have warned about delays in the delivery of treatments and barriers in access to drugs. The Government assured that it will continue with the implementation of the necessary measures to ensure that patients receive completely and timely their medications, as well as the monitoring of the actors responsible for the production and distribution.
With updated distribution figures and resolved procedures, The Ministry argued that the balance shows advances against the risks of shortage in the country. Even so, he reiterated that effective access depends on the articulation between regulatory, pharmaceutical entities and distributors, as well as the financial sustainability of the health system.
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Diana K. Rodríguez T.
Portfolio journalist
