Basic Health Teams: $4.2 trillion without clear measurement and under suspicion of political use
Cumulative investment in EBS since 2022 amounts to $4.2 trillion. Photo: Courtesy
TL;DR
- The Basic Health Teams (EBS) program has received an investment of $4.2 trillion, deploying 11,000 teams and serving 6 million people.
- The program's impact on public health lacks unified measurements and faces territorial execution challenges.
- Questions have been raised regarding spending control, with the Comptroller expressing doubts about the execution of $1.3 trillion.
- There are concerns about political influence in hiring processes, with regional politicians reportedly contracted as territorial liaisons.
- The program's operational effectiveness is dependent on hospital and EPS relationships, potentially hindering continuity of care.
- President Petro attributes reduced infant mortality to EBS, but the Ministry clarifies it's due to multiple sector actions and data is preliminary.
- The program faces a dual reality of expanded coverage in remote areas alongside criticisms of spending control, contracting, and impact measurement.
- The program, initiated three and a half years ago, lacks a consolidated evaluation of its health outcomes.