Colombia is making significant strides in tackling the financial fragmentation of healthcare systems, a critical barrier to achieving universal health coverage. The release of a research brochure and detailed progress update from Universidad Nacional de Colombia showcases our partner’s commitment to strengthening healthcare financing and access, and places Colombia at the forefront of health policy innovation in Latin America.

A Comprehensive Look at Financial Fragmentation in Healthcare

The brochure on financial fragmentation provides a deep dive into the challenges posed by segmented healthcare financing models, where different funding mechanisms create disparities in access and efficiency. Colombia’s research teams have taken a multifaceted approach to studying fragmentation, and their work includes:

• Developing financial fragmentation metrics to measure disparities in healthcare funding and access.
• Assessing the impact of past reforms, including the unification of health benefit plans and the reorganization of Bogotá’s public health network.
• Exploring the political determinants of healthcare fragmentation, particularly under the reforms introduced by President Gustavo Petro in 2023.
• Advancing digital health research through an electronic patient cohort that tracks access to care for people with chronic conditions.

Progress and Achievements: A Milestone in Health Research

The latest update from the project details the impressive progress made by our Colombian partners, including:

• Establishing strong collaborations with national institutions such as Universidad del Rosario, the Bogotá District Health Secretariat, and Bienestar IPS.
• Creating a health research data center at Universidad Nacional’s Faculty of Medicine, enhancing the country’s ability to conduct high-quality research.
• Engaging local and international experts to refine methodologies and ensure research findings translate into policy action.
• Producing groundbreaking studies, such as the impact of healthcare fragmentation on breast and colorectal cancer survival rates, published in international journals.
• Hosting knowledge-sharing events, including a webinar titled “A New Paradigm for Improving Healthcare Quality”, emphasizing patient-centered care.

Looking Ahead: Next Steps in Research and Policy Reform

As Colombia continues its groundbreaking work on healthcare fragmentation, the next phase of research will focus on:

• Expanding data collection in Bogotá, Medellín, and Chocó to analyze political factors influencing healthcare financing.
• Publishing evaluations of policy reforms, including the equalization of benefit plans and the restructuring of Bogotá’s healthcare network.
• Completing the follow-up of patient cohorts to provide long-term insights into healthcare outcomes and equity.

With these ambitious initiatives, Colombia reinforces its commitment to ensuring a more efficient, equitable, and integrated healthcare system.

📖 Read the full brochure here
📢 Explore the latest project updates here