2023-10-31 23:16:07
There are five million people who are affiliated with the EPS Sanitas and who, as of November 15, will stop receiving some medications – which are not from the Basic Health Plan (PBS) – at the Cruz Verde drugstore facilities. To alleviate the situation, the health provider proposed to the national government that it transfer resources directly to the pharmaceutical company.
“In this particular case, we propose to the Government that it develop a direct payment from the State to pharmaceutical managers or providers without intervention or participation of the EPS,” said Juan Pablo Rueda Sánchez, president of Sanitas.
The president of Sanitas explained why they have debts with Cruz Verde drug stores. He argued that the State falls short when it comes to allocating resources to cover the expenses of patients who have to be treated with resources that are outside the Basic Health Plan.
Read more: Attention: after a shortage of medicines, they decree a precautionary measure and order urgent actions to address the crisis
“Every month, non-PBS care generates an expense of 55,000 million pesos and here it is important to say that, of that money, the State – through maximum budgets – only recognizes us 32,000 million pesos,” explained Rueda Sánchez.
The president of Sanitas added that, month after month, an embezzlement of 23,000 million pesos is generated and that the debt has accumulated over the last three years. For this reason, he said, the non-compliance with Cruz Verde has already reached 400,000 million pesos.
Find out: “It complies because it complies”: Government gives an ultimatum to Sanitas and explains what will happen with Cruz Verde medications
“We have failed to comply, precisely, because the State allocation to cover non-PBS has not been sufficient,” argued Rueda Sánchez and added that the EPS union had been alerting the government about this situation for several months.
Sanitas assured that the State is the one who must guarantee patients compliance with the services that are not included in the Basic Health Care Plan and that the EPS or drugstores are not directly responsible.
Due to this situation, Supersalud has already given EPS Sanitas a slap on the wrist. It required him to have an immediate contingency plan that guarantees the continuous and prompt delivery of medications.
“This control entity reports that it is monitoring compliance with the established times for the delivery of medications, and non-compliance will lead to administrative investigations for sanctioning purposes, if applicable,” Supersalud said in a statement.
To find out more: “We are looking for alternatives”: Sanitas responds to Cruz Verde’s cessation of drug delivery
Most medications will continue to be delivered at Cruz Verde facilities to Sanitas members. What happens is that this drugstore will no longer deliver the supplies that are outside the PBS, mostly expensive and to treat orphan diseases.
“More than 90% of members can rest assured because Cruz Verde will continue to deliver normal medications. What it will not deliver are very specific and very expensive medicines, which are generally for orphan diseases and other serious conditions,” explained the Minister of Health, Guillermo Jaramillo, while stating that another supplier will be found for affected patients.
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