In the midst of one of the most important purchases in the hospital sector in Medellín in recent years, the name of Clínica Vida burst onto the public agenda this month following it was confirmed that this foundation had managed to keep the old Saludcoop clinic. from 80th avenue.
After several weeks of rumors, the manager of that organization, Francisco Lozano Olaya, revealed how the $96.5 billion operation was structured and how the talks with the Mayor’s Office are progressing with a view to its delivery.
Founded in 1991, this organization is one of the most recognized in the country for the treatment of cancer patients, registering in the last year more than 93,301 consultations, 10,656 surgeries and 3,091 patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Conceived from the beginning as a non-profit organization, the Clinic leads a social work in which the most vulnerable patients receive specialized care, therapeutic support, education and spiritual advice.
Despite the high costs of cancer treatments, the foundation is leading a crusade to guarantee the care of low-income patients with difficulties in accessing health.
In dialogue with EL COLOMBIANO, Lozano explained how the talks began to keep the clinic and what the plans are for when it is delivered to them.
How did the acquisition of the 80 clinic begin to be structured?
“Clínica Vida is a non-profit foundation, which was established more than 30 years ago, six years ago it began its hospital stage and three years ago an expansion process.
In this exercise, we have weighed several alternatives for expansion, ranging from the purchase of spaces, to the construction of a new clinic. Among those options, it was thought to buy the headquarters of Saludcoop de la 80.
Since before the pandemic, we had rapprochements with the previous settlement agent and now, in the most recent stage, we have had rapprochements with the current settlement agent and we began exchanging communications in the month of November 2021.”
How important was this operation, taking into account the social work that characterizes the foundation?
“The foundation is an entity that, like many others, is going to reinvest in the growth and well-being of its patients, grow coverage in Antioquia and in neighboring departments, such as Chocó. We also want to have an oncology center that is a benchmark in Antioquia, as a center of excellence in cancer patient care, research and development of new technologies.”
Is the objective to expand that social function outside of Medellin?
“Yes, we are not only going to grow in Medellín, but we are also going to take oncology to the regions, grow in humanization and coverage.”
How are they going to achieve it?
“The clinic has a built area of 23,000 square meters, 200 individual rooms, 10 operating rooms and has areas to accommodate around 100 chemotherapy and immunotherapy chairs. There is also enough space to develop radiotherapy, brachytherapy, nuclear medicine and, according to the evolution and future studies, to develop PET (Positron Emission Tomography), to shape a clinic of the highest complexity”.
Did the purchase begin to be structured before the pandemic?
“Yes, it started approximately at the end of 2019, when our staff visited the headquarters, when there were still napkins, toilet paper and lunch boxes from patients that had been left there, because finally that closure was very abrupt.”
In terms of numbers, how much was the acquisition finally sealed for?
“The figure is higher than the level of the appraisal, which was $96,012 million. The figure that we offered was $96.5 billion.”
The Mayor’s Office of Medellín invested more than $23,000 million to adapt that space to deal with the pandemic, what has been discussed regarding that?
“We have already started rapprochement meetings and we evidenced the investment that was made to the headquarters, following a very conscientious job. It is a venue that is very well achieved, in very good condition in terms of its infrastructure and its maintenance. We show that there is some equipment that the Mayor’s Office acquired for the operation of the headquarters and that equipment is being evaluated for a negotiation “.
Does that mean that the work done by the Mayor’s Office is useful to the new clinic?
“Yes, that is the conclusion. All the investment made by the Mayor’s Office is for proper use of a hospital clinic, because the elements that that clinic previously had were unused, turned off, without maintenance. They deteriorated a lot and were useless.
The National Government extended the health emergency, which would allow the Mayor’s Office to continue taking advantage of the space to attend to the pandemic. What is the delivery schedule?
“We are attentive to what the Nation and the Mayor’s Office define. If they require an extension of time, we would not have any type of inconvenience, but if they say “it is time to deliver on ‘x’ date”, we are also lined up to receive the venue”.
In other words, does that mean that you do not handle dates and are waiting for what the Mayor’s Office tells you?
“Yes, that between the Mayor’s Office of Medellin and the settlement agent they define the date of delivery of the property.”
