The Colombian government on Monday ordered the country’s health care providers to ensure that their members can access healthcare services in all of the country, and not just the municipality where the clients are affiliated.
“When a member changes his place of residence on a casual, temporary or permanent basis either for work, study or another reason, the EPS must guarantee access to basic health services” explained Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria Uribe.
The latest decree calls for the health care providers to strengthen their care networks in areas where they do not operate in an attempt to increase portability.
To this end, patients may apply personally, in writing or by email for portability procedures and in no case are citizens required to personally visit the EPS office in their hometown.
The request must however, contain name and identification, the municipalities a member is from and visiting, the time the person will stay, the health care service he or she is ascribed to and a telephone number or email address.