Colombia Health Minister faces scrutiny over hospital ship projects

Colombian Health Minister Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo has assured citizens that national government resources are secured for the construction of the High Complexity Regional Hospital (HRAC) in Pereira, Risaralda. The project, managed by the Risaralda Governor's Office, has moved forward following negotiations with control agencies.

In a separate political development, Senator Andrés Forero of the Centro Democrático has called for an investigation into Jaramillo’s management of hospital ship projects. Forero raised concerns regarding the Benkos Biohó vessel, intended for Pacific communities, alleging it was assigned to a public hospital facing significant labor and operational difficulties.

The Senator also questioned a second hospital ship project for the Amazon region, noting that Hospital San Rafael de Leticia reportedly lacked the capacity to manage the vessel. Forero alleged potential cost overruns of approximately 60 billion Colombian pesos and requested an inquiry from the Procuraduría General regarding the project's financing and sustainability.