Colombia hospitals seek emergency funding following earthquake

Two weeks after a major earthquake in Colombia, the healthcare sector is facing a severe crisis. The Colombian Association of Hospitals and Clinics has requested that the Ministry of Health authorize a payment scheme for bed availability to sustain operations in the most affected areas. This request comes as installed capacity has dropped by up to 55% in 13 of the 15 most impacted departments.

Data shows that medical consultations, procedures, and hospitalizations in the affected zones decreased by 52% as of August 21, directly impacting the revenue of healthcare institutions. The association argues that hospitals must receive resources to maintain staff, equipment, and available beds to ensure they can respond when demand increases, similar to the payment models used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite infrastructure damage and shortages of supplies, medical personnel have continued to provide services, often working in improvised settings such as parking lots or tents. While the financial coverage for victims is managed through the ECAT subaccount administered by ADRES, the operational stability of the hospital network remains under significant pressure.