health
The dramas faced by paisa patients due to the collapse of healthcare
The crisis currently engulfing the health system has turned the emergency rooms of the Hospital General de Medellín into a kind of refugee camp...
TL;DR
- Emergency rooms in Medellín are severely overcrowded, with some operating at 150% to 250% capacity.
- Patients are experiencing prolonged waits, with some sleeping on floors or improvised beds for days.
- There are significant issues with EPS, particularly Nueva EPS and Savia Salud, regarding patient referrals and access to specialized care.
- Medication delivery is a critical problem, with many patients, including transplant recipients and those with chronic conditions, not receiving their prescribed drugs.
- Legal actions, such as 'tutelas', are increasingly being used by patients to demand their right to healthcare and medication.
- Hospitals are facing financial strain, with the Hospital General de Medellín having a significant debt with Nueva EPS.
- Antioquia's health authorities are considering declaring a hospital 'orange alert' to facilitate patient redistribution.
- A backlog of 510 patients waiting for inter-institutional referrals was reported in the department.
- Nueva EPS has seen a dramatic drop in health access compliance, from 60% to 20% in one year.
- The Personería de Medellín reports a high volume of 'tutelas' and non-compliance incidents against EPS.