An overview of some of the key processes
and results of Colombia’s National Health System
is presented. A systematic review of the literature
evaluating the quality of the evidence published
in indexed journals and literature not published
in journals was made. Health system financial
resources have seen a sustained increase
while spending on health has remained at around
8% of GNP. Coverage, measured by affiliation to
contributory and subsidized regimes, is in the
order of 92% of the total population. The Mandatory
Health Plan, defining the benefits to which
one has access, has been broadly maintained but
has been hampered by mechanisms for making
legal complaints, thereby leading to financial deficits.
The health system has contributed towards
improving the poorest sector’s income, but inequalities
persist due to the lack of universal coverage,
differences in health plans and the system’s
expenditure according to the population’s income.
Advances made in the National Health System
have been positive but universality has not been
achieved and this has stagnated in matters regarding
access to services and equality