Colombia's health system faces surge in rare disease deaths and hospital service suspensions

The Colombian Federation of Rare Diseases (Fecoer) reported that 237 patients with rare conditions affiliated to Nueva EPS died between January and May 2026, adding to 522 deaths recorded in 2025. Around 17,000 people depend on Nueva EPS for continuous, specialized care, and the federation warned of a potential humanitarian crisis caused by treatment delays, access barriers and insufficient specialist services.

At the same time, Hospital General de Medellín announced the suspension of regular services for approximately 1.2 million Nueva EPS affiliates and 200,000 Comfachocó members because the insurers have not paid accumulated debts. Pending payments from Asmet Salud (over 3.5 billion pesos) and FOMAG (about 1.6 billion pesos) could trigger further restrictions. The hospital will maintain emergency care but other specialties are halted, intensifying pressure on an already overloaded regional health network.