health
April 30, 2026
Report reveals that Colombian households' spending on medicines has increased
The Colombian Pharmaceutical Industry Association (ASCIF) provided details on the first edition of the DATASCIF report, exposing the behavior of the pharmaceutical market and providing an overview of access to medicines, foreign trade, and the participation of national industry in the health system.
TL;DR
- Household spending on medicines in Colombia increased by 18.4% from 2021 to 2024.
- Spending on essential medicines like analgesics rose by 25%, and oral antidiabetics by over 79%.
- Colombia's dependence on imported pharmaceuticals has increased, resulting in a trade deficit of $3.534 billion in 2025.
- The national pharmaceutical industry contributes significantly to the market, generates jobs, and impacts the industrial GDP.
- Experts identified structural pressures from epidemiological changes and difficulties in timely treatment delivery.