The Colombian health system He has been in intensive care for some time and with recent events the diagnosis does not seem to improve.
(Read more: Intervention vs. liquidation: what implications do these processes have with the EPS?)
On April 2, the National Health Superintendence intervened in the EPS Sanitas. 24 later he made the decision to carry out the same process with the New EPSthe largest health provider entity in the country.
According to the control entity, the measure, which corresponds to a “forced administrative intervention to administer”, It is preventive in nature and was applied considering various factors that have hindered the provision of services by these entities, such as their critical financial situation.
However, the announcements did not stop there. This Friday, April 5, Compensar EPS announced that it requested voluntary liquidation before Supersalud. This taking into account “the complex financial situation that the system in Colombia is going through, which considerably affected the viability and sustainability of the program.”
Although, for the moment, in none of the cases will the normal operation of these EPS be suspended, it raises the concern that this situation will lead to a chain reaction.
(Read more: Guide to understanding the 'anatomy' of the Colombian health system and its current situation)
Are we facing a 'domino effect'?
According to Daniel López, professor in the department of public law and researcher at the labor observatory of the Javeriana University, the Government should consider the effects of the interventions.
“Interventions do not always generate good effects on the health system. In fact, most of the time what they cause are very drastic effects. To the point that they generate chaos, generate uncertainty on the part of providers and deepen the deterioration of the service and financial situations”he explained.
In this sense, the expert highlighted the importance of caution remains when carrying out this type of process.
On the other hand, and regarding whether Compensar's situation would result in more EPS resorting to voluntary liquidation, López pointed out that, although today any provider of this type can submit that request, as the crisis deepens More entities could be motivated to follow these steps.
Regarding the current panorama for users affiliated with the aforementioned entities, he highlighted that “In theory, the reasons why these EPS continue to function should not be affected, they continue to operate and, therefore, the provision of the service will continue normally, that is, under the same conditions.”
(See: With Sanitas intervened and Compensar with a liquidation request, how is Sura?)
During an intervention in the Constitutional Court, the Minister of Health, Guillermo Jaramillo, referred to the situation faced by the EPS that are part of the system. Especially after the announcement made by Compensar.
The Minsalud indicated that the Government has been insisting on the transformation of these entities with a view to ensuring that these can continue in the health system.
“We have always said, there is a complex situation, we consider that the EPS cannot ensure and provide financial assurance. Of the 150 EPS, and according to the Comptroller's report, only five are complying”he indicated.
(Read more: President Petro assumed responsibility for what is happening with the EPS)
Thus, the transformation, according to Jaramillo, is focused on ensuring that they do not need reserves, equity or capital, and that in this way they do not assume the responsibility that the law requires them to have today.
“That is the great fear of Compensar. We know that reserves, assets and capital have been lost, in a responsible manner they said that 'we prefer to withdraw' and we as the Government do not want them to withdraw,” he pointed.
Regarding the intervention processes, The Superintendency of Health has explained that these aim to strengthen the EPS so that they have the conditions that allow them to provide their services.
(See: Why did Compensar EPS enter into crisis and ask to be liquidated?: these are the figures)
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