Aspectos financieros y fiscales del sistema de salud en Colombia

Abstract

The article provides an overview of institutional aspects, mechanisms, and funding sources in the Colombia's healthcare system. Through the use of general equilibrium models, the study assesses the impacts of various risks faced by the healthcare system, considering their effects on sector finances, fiscal deficit, and macroeconomic variables. These risks encompass the implications of demographic changes, characterized by population aging, shifts in morbidity patterns—especially linked to the rise of non-communicable diseases—and the adoption of new medical technologies. Additionally, the study explores the effects of informality and economic growth on the fiscal resource needs within the sector. It concludes that the country could undergo a significant increase in necessary public spending to finance the healthcare system in Colombia, amounting to 1.9% of GDP by 2030. The article also presents estimates of efficiency measures and economies of scale for healthcare promotion companies and Institutions Providing Health Services, underscoring the significance of resource efficiency within the system to alleviate pressures on public spending.