Analyzing the 2011 Colombian health reforms

Abstract

The Colombian health system was radically reformed in the early 1990s with roles redefined following a social security system model that included the creation of insurance companies and the definition of a benefits package. Since 1993, enrollment in the system has reached 91 % of the population. In regard to health status indicators, Colombia is in a late stage of epidemiological transition mixed with high inequality and labor informality in the economic sector. In this organizational setting, health care reform was introduced in 2011 aiming to improve financial resource management within the health system. Given the changing organizational arrangement and the need for reform the aim of this chapter is to measure health reform satisfaction and trust among major stakeholders. A semistructured interview approach was used. The results show that mistrust is very high in the Colombian health system, with perceptions of asymmetry in political power distribution.