Cartagena: New Bocagrande Hospital doctors and staff complete five months without pay

A labor and healthcare crisis has disrupted the Nuevo Hospital Bocagrande in Cartagena, where about 170 workers say they have gone five accumulated months without pay or social benefits.

The unpaid salaries cover January, February, March, July and August. Workers also report missing payments for bonuses, severance funds and contributions to Colombia’s social-security system. The complaint came from Genaro Duque, a physician and spokesperson for the institution’s healthcare, nursing and general-services staff.

“The situation is quite complex for the immediate-care and emergency staff at the institution. For nursing and general-services personnel, who earn the minimum wage with overtime and work full shifts, it is impossible to keep surviving without basic guarantees,” Duque said.

The medical staff is demanding urgent settlement of the debt before activities resume. A failed conciliation meeting produced no clear agreement, while the district administration ordered a temporary closure or restriction of the facility. Employees later filed a collective petition, conditioning the return of shifts on an actual financial recovery plan and immediate payment of the five months owed.

Workers also report that unpaid social-security contributions have suspended medical services, medication delivery and appointments for employees and their families, including workers with existing medical conditions. Dozens of health professionals have resigned because they could not maintain a basic livelihood.

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The situation is quite complex for the immediate-care and emergency staff at the institution. For nursing and general-services personnel, who earn the minimum wage with overtime and work full shifts, it is impossible to keep surviving without basic guarantees.