"Making huge lines to see if there are medications": the ordeal of Nueva EPS users

Nancy Martínez Salazar, 58, says she feels anxious. She has lived with cancer, diabetes, and hypertension for some time; however, what keeps her tense is not her diagnoses, but the silence and inaction of Nueva EPS, the health entity that should guarantee her treatment.

"Making huge lines to see if there are medications": the ordeal of Nueva EPS users

TL;DR

  • Nancy Martínez, a 58-year-old patient with cancer, diabetes, and hypertension, has been waiting six months for a breast MRI, essential for detecting tumor residue.
  • Nueva EPS and Supersalud have failed to provide the MRI, with the excuse that there is no availability, forcing patients to travel to other cities.
  • Patients are also facing a shortage of prescribed medications, with EPS officials stating 'there are none,' leading patients to bear the financial burden of purchasing them out-of-pocket.
  • The organization Pacientes de Alto Costo reports a significant increase in complaints against Nueva EPS and criticizes the inaction of the Superintendence of Health and the absence of Nueva EPS's interventor in crucial meetings.
  • Overall complaints regarding health services in Colombia have drastically increased, with over 2 million filed in 2025, primarily concerning access to appointments and medications.