Health reform: follow, live, the debate in the Seventh Commission

At this time it begins, continues the health reform debate in the Seventh Committee of the House of Representatives.

With 3 articles already approved and with the request of ex-ministers and unions of the sector to withdraw the project, the Government measures its conciliation capacities to carry out the most controversial reform of the structural ones.

Read: Supersalud ordered forced intervention of the EPS Asmet Salud).

at 2:40 p.m.: The president of the Commission, Agmeth Escaf, put the articles to a vote without propositions filed. They are 16: 43, 44, 69, 88, 97, 101, 102, 104, 108, 113, 119, 120, 126, 127, and 134.

At 11:33 a.m.: A video was broadcast in which the former Minister of Health and Education, Alejandro Gaviria, explained the points with which he did not agree with the text. He mentioned that “health care reforms do not establish governments, but they can overthrow them.”

To which he added that “sometimes it is difficult for him to believe that this is a reform of a left-wing government” and affirmed that he does believe that it is necessary to make a reform, but without consensus and without legitimacy, this reform will fail.

At 11:03 a.m.: Juan Pablo Rueda, president of EPS Sanitas, intervened, mentioning that there is no country with such broad (almost universal) health coverage. He stressed that the system protects the economy of families, and that this cannot be ignored. A balance must be reached so that what works in central places and is very efficient can also reach remote areas.

“An EPS is viable to the extent that it keeps its population healthy,” he said.

At 10:55 a.m.: Dr. Jaime Arias Ramírez talks about the uncertainty that exists about whether the articles proposed by the Government will really be able to combat corruption. He assured that the illicit gains in the system are one of the situations that should concern the actors in the discussion the most.

At 10:26 a.m.: Luisa Vélez spoke on behalf of the Scientific Societies on the guarantee of Human Talent in Health. According to her, the participation of scientific societies in the National Health Council is necessary, in addition to the continuous training of the sector in the needs that the country has and that will exist with the reform.

At 10:20 a.m.: The doctor Ramón Castaño participated, who assured that the territorialization model proposed by the articles solves to a great extent the basic health problems that most people may have, but violates the right to health of those who have much more complex chronic diseases. and that require greater coordination.

At 10:00 am: started the participation of Clemencia Mayorga, a pediatrician, who highlighted that “yes a reform is needed“but worry”that the money can be extinguished, so clarity is needed about the money“.

(See: Former ministers and unions ask the Government to withdraw the health reform).

In turn, he criticized the creation of regional funds, an element that “could create more bureaucracy“. And in terms of article 150 of the National Development Plan, which approves the direct transfer of the ADRES to health service providers, he added that with sa mediated “only two EPS will end up remaining“.

At 9:56 a.m.: The presentation of the former Minister of Health, Fernando Ruíz, began. For him, the care model presented with the reform is “fragmented in terms of territory and care networksIn addition, he questioned the capacities of the Ministry of Health to fulfill care functions and the capacities of the Adres to fulfill functions that the EPS have today.

(See: Fiscal Rule Committee Suggestions on Pension, Health and Gasoline).

Another of the important points that the former minister highlighted was the fiscal cost of the project and where the resources will come from to achieve everything that is proposed with the initiative.

He also mentioned that with the project the individual insurance and the avoidance of the passive subject of the right are eliminated and already “there will be no one to guide“.

(See: Health reform: process gets tangled up and there is no support from conservatives).

At 9:50 a.m.: the propositions filed by the representatives Andes Forero, of Centro Democrático; Betsy Pérez, from Cambio Radical, and others “illegible signatures” to start the informal session. Proposal that was accepted.

At 9:41 a.m.: The quorum was met to start the discussion. In addition, the president of the Commission, Agmeth Escaf, reported that in respect of the rights of the opposition, only they will be able to modify the agenda.

One hour after the agreed time, the session began, but there is still no quorum to decide.

(See: The crisis that generated the health reform in the Petro government).

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