Rudolf Hommes, former Minister of Finance, issued another warning to Gustavo Petro. Despite being an ally in the campaign for the second round, the also former rector of the Universidad de los Andes rejected the president-elect’s idea of eliminating the EPS to establish a public health system, in some respects similar to Social Security.
First, Hommes recommended that Petro strengthen the current system, beginning with strengthening health in the rural sector.
“The health system is not perfect, but it cares for the majority of the urban population and precariously for the rural population. The reform would have to start in the rural sector and the example to follow is that of Ecuador: health posts in all corregimientos, adequately equipped,” said the former minister on Twitter.
Then, he warned regarding what would happen if Petro manages to eliminate the EPS: “You should not run the risk of destroying something that works before you have something better going. It can bring tragic consequences and cause a catastrophe in health”.
Although he is an ally of Gustavo Petro, Hommes has not stopped publishing recommendations for the president-elect to control some of the problems that arise as a result of his election. The last warning was due to the rise in the dollar to record highs, which according to the former minister is due to “lack of confidence” regarding the evolution of the economy.
“Between June 6 and today, the Colombian peso has devalued 12.96%. In the same period, the Chilean peso devalued 3.4% and the euro 3.3%. It is not correct to think then that the accelerated devaluation of the peso is ‘a world phenomenon’ when it is devalued 3 times more than the others”, explained Hommes.
Despite much talk of the global context as the trigger for the dollar’s rise, Hommes believes that more confidence is needed: “There are other national factors that are causing a much faster devaluation. It has not been possible to create confidence on the evolution of the economy, but on governability. It will be necessary to announce what the tax and fiscal reform will be.”
Faced with the situation, the former minister used a phrase from Petro himself to reiterate that the announcement recommended in the previous trill be expedited. “As Petro said: when that is announced, it will be known who is going to be counted on in Congress and how far there is union. The sooner the better”.
Gustavo Petro’s proposal to eliminate the EPS has the presidents of the most important health insurers in the country tense. The question of many, in agreement with Hommes, questions the need to change a system that, in the midst of defects, works better and better.
The appointment of Dr. Carolina Corcho as Minister of Health of the incoming government reinforces the intention to eliminate the current system. Despite this, the main EPS unions, in conversation with WEEKconfirmed their willingness to dialogue to argue the importance of maintaining insurance companies.
“It is an open attitude, of dialogue, of construction, of preserving the progress of this system and preserving value within the health system for users. Also self-critical, because we understand that there are many problems in the health system that we have to work on,” said Paula Acosta, president of the Colombian Association of Comprehensive Medicine Companies (Acemi), which brings together the ten largest EPS in the country.
Elisa Torrenegra, director of the Association of Health Insurance Management Companies (Gestarsalud), highlighted the “good intentions” of the incoming government and agreed with him regarding his disagreements. “We are believers that Dr. Corcho will be able to analyze not only the perception of the past, but also the realities of what she is finding. The intention that she may have for improvement, we as Gestarsalud are going to be very attentive to help, ”she indicated.
According to Torrenegra, the lack of this role and the return to the public system would have a direct impact on the patient, since some territorial entities would not have the “resolution capacity” and the administrative record of the EPS. “The risk is that waiting times for services are lengthened and that this will not be able to improve. (…) Second, a higher cost of the system”, warned.
