Colombia President Petro's Health Reform Draws Sharp Criticism from Former President Álvaro Uribe

Former president Álvaro Uribe Vélez accused President Gustavo Petro of "destroying" Colombia’s health system, saying the current reforms have dismantled the mixed public‑private model established under Law 100. Uribe warned that the shift toward greater state control has created liquidity problems for the EPS insurers, forced patients to pay for medicines and specialist visits, and jeopardised access to care.

Petro replied that the reforms aim to eliminate the “unproductive intermediation” of private EPSs and to guarantee health as a universal right, with resources flowing directly to public hospitals and primary‑care centers. He portrayed the opposition’s complaints as resistance from groups that do not want to lose control over health financing.

Uribe also proposed a “mixed modality” combining private and state participation, offering tax incentives to certified providers to ensure stability and investor confidence. The exchange has intensified political debate ahead of Colombia’s upcoming presidential runoff.