Colombia’s national government declared a social emergency to save the country’s healthcare system that is on the brink of collapse. The government needs a trillion pesos (US$500 million) to rescue the current system.
According to Finance Minister Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, the contry’s healthcare system needs at least a US$400 million stimulus to be healthy again. Without this money, health authorities fear that insurance companies will not be able to pay the hospitals.
Through temporary fiscal measures carried out during the period of social emergency between January 12 and 22 and the implementation of new regulation, the government hopes to avoid a collapse of the healthcare system.