health
In Court, Health Minister Insisted on UPC Sufficiency and Attacked Sector Guilds
Before three Constitutional Court magistrates, the Minister of Health, Guillermo Jaramillo, defended the budget increases that the ministry under his charge has made to the per capita payment unit (UPC) in recent years. The official was summoned before that institution to evaluate his alleged contempt regarding the calculation of this premium, which is the resources that the State gives to health promoting entities (EPS) for the medical attention of their affiliates.
TL;DR
- Minister of Health Guillermo Jaramillo defended budget increases for the per capita payment unit (UPC) before the Constitutional Court.
- He denied accusations of underfunding the healthcare system and claimed some actors were pressuring for increases while accumulating debt.
- Jaramillo detailed UPC increases for 2026: 9.03% for the contributory regime and 16.49% for the subsidized regime.
- The total health budget grew by 50% to $25 trillion, with funds for medical attention per citizen increasing by 28% to $21 trillion.
- He stated that the current government's increases exceed inflation and are higher than those in previous administrations.
- Jaramillo accused guilds like Acemi, Andi, and Asocajas of representing the same interests and colluding to demand higher UPC.
- He argued that the UPC is sufficient but is being managed inefficiently by EPS.
- The minister cited that EPS owes nearly $1 trillion to pharmaceutical providers like Cruz Verde, while some providers allegedly declare bankruptcy while building new infrastructure.