The new Minister of Health and Social Protection, Carolina Corcho, met this Monday with the Ministry’s work team, both with plant collaborators and with the entity’s contractors.
The meeting aimed to get to know the minister, in addition to some of the challenges and work proposals that come with the new Government. “This is a Government of fundamental rights,” said the head of the Health portfolio.
Likewise, he pointed out that health is not only the care of the disease, the provision, but also the social determinants of health.
“Neither this government nor this ministry is interested in making rear-view mirrors, we seek to unite. Here there is high technical capacity”, Corcho valued, mentioning that all this knowledge must be brought to light and at the service of the fundamental right to health.
Among the priorities for this week, he highlighted that the tax reform project will be accompanied, as well as progress in the definition of the management team; In addition, he assured that “we will also value many of the people who are here” and announced the first appointments of the work team.
First, Jaime Urrego, a doctor from the National University, Ph. D. in Public Health, specialist in High Management of the Social Security in Health and in Planning and Regional Administration of Development, who was appointed by the minister for the Vice Ministry of Public Health and Provision of Services.
Similarly, Luis Alberto Martínez Saldarriaga, a dentist from the University of Antioquia, a specialist in Health Services Administration, a Master’s in Administration and in Government and Public Policy, who is appointed to the Vice Ministry of Social Protection.
Additionally, the minister announced that the national superintendent of health appointed is Ulahy Beltrán López, surgeon and specialist in Health Services Management.
Finally, he thanked the presence of the servants and contractors of the ministry and their disposition. “I will be talking this week, learning regarding your experiences, we want to row on the same side,” she concluded.
Who is Carolina Corcho?
Diana Carolina Corcho Mejía is a psychiatrist, in addition to being a researcher in aspects of public health and social issues.
She was a member of the Follow-up Commission for Judgment T-760 for a Structural Reform of the Health System, a civil society body, consultant to the Constitutional Court on Public Health Policy.
On the other hand, Corcho was vice president of the Colombian Medical Federation, an instance of the medical union, in which one of the roles that is fulfilled is to permanently advise the national government on public health and education policies in the sector.
The minister is co-founder and member of the Network of Progressive Women of Latin America, and has also served as coordinator of the PAO – Colombia group.
Among other tasks carried out, the official was president of the National Association of Interns and Residents, scientific director of the consultancy project for the care model for the consumption of psychoactive substances by young people in the criminal responsibility system, and member of the National Mental Health Council, advisory body of the national government on mental health public policy, on behalf of medical associations and scientific societies.
