Financial crisis at Medellín General Hospital: Services restricted for Nueva EPS and Comfachocó users due to massive debt
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- The General Hospital of Medellín is facing a severe financial crisis due to unpaid services from EPS Nueva EPS and Comfachocó.
- The hospital has restricted services for affiliates of these EPS, excluding only vital emergencies, starting June 16.
- The outstanding debt amounts to approximately $7 billion for Comfachocó and $18 billion for Nueva EPS, threatening the hospital's stability.
The General Hospital of Medellín has announced a drastic measure to restrict services for affiliates of Nueva EPS and Comfachocó, citing a severe financial crisis stemming from non-payment of services. Starting Tuesday, June 16, the hospital will only attend to vital emergencies for patients covered by these two health providers.
According to the hospital's management, the outstanding debt for May alone is substantial, with Comfachocó owing around $2 billion and Nueva EPS approximately $5 billion. This adds to an already significant accumulated debt, reaching $7 billion from Comfachocó and $18 billion from Nueva EPS. This financial strain seriously jeopardizes the hospital's economic stability and its capacity to continue providing medical services.
the measure will remain in effect until both EPS guarantee the payment of the owed services.
Hospital manager Juan David Arteaga Flórez stated that the service restriction will remain in effect until both EPS guarantee payment of the owed services. However, in compliance with current regulations and to uphold the right to health, the hospital affirmed that emergency care and procedures posing an imminent risk to patients' lives will continue to be guaranteed.
The hospital urged affected users to contact their respective EPS for clear information on alternative healthcare providers. The institution expressed regret for the inconvenience caused, emphasizing that this decision was unavoidable and solely driven by the need to ensure the sustainability of its services.
this determination is alien to the will of the medical center and responds exclusively to the sustainability of the service.
Originally published by El Tiempo in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.