Ombudsman's Office Reports Increase in Health Complaints in Cartagena
There is still commotion in the country after the death of an elderly woman in the middle of the Nueva EPS medication dispensary, in front of users waiting their turn in the Los Caobos neighborhood of Cúcuta, in Norte de Santander.
TL;DR
- An elderly woman, Cecilia Quintero, died at a Nueva EPS pharmacy in Cúcuta while seeking medication for herself and her family.
- The Ombudsman's Office reported a 2% increase in health complaints in Bolívar in 2025, with 3,585 claims filed.
- The main reasons for complaints are the lack of medication delivery (45%) and delays in medical appointments.
- The crisis is linked to insufficient funding for the health system, disputes over resource allocation (UPC), and a lack of transparency in financial flows.
- The Ombudsman's Office is initiating dialogue with EPS through working groups to address critical issues while advocating for structural health reform.