This is how the cancer patient cartel that implicates the Ministry of Health would work
More than 1,400 patients bore transfer costs out of their own pockets. Photo: iStock
TL;DR
- A complaint filed in Congress alleges a suspicious concentration of high-complexity PET-CT scans for cancer patients in a single clinic in Ibagué.
- The Nueva EPS reportedly concentrated 3,374 PET-CT exams in this clinic between 2023 and January 2026, valued at over $17.6 billion.
- Referrals show an accelerated growth of 949% from 2023 to 2025, with patients traveling long distances, even passing by clinics in their own cities.
- Over 1,400 patients allegedly paid for their own transportation costs, while only 617 referrals included travel expenses.
- Allegations suggest a potential conflict of interest due to historical close ties between the Minister of Health's family and the clinic's owner.
- The representative questions whether this situation represents a new cartel in the healthcare system.