Published in

Policy Brief

Authors

Sánchez-Santiesteban D., Hone T., Millet C., Buitrago G.

Abstract

This policy brief assesses the impact of Bogotá’s 2016–2018 public health network reorganization, which centered on strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC), creating Priority Primary Care Centers (CAPS), and introducing prospective payment systems. A quasi-experimental difference-in-differences analysis was conducted on a cohort of 443,344 hypertensive patients in the subsidized scheme compared to the contributory scheme. Results demonstrate that the restructuring led to a statistically significant increase in outpatient visits (+50 per 1,000 patients), reductions in hospitalizations (-2 per 1,000 patients), fewer high-cost cardiovascular and renal procedures, an 8% drop in overall mortality, and total cost savings of ~0.56 million COP per patient per semester. The study highlights that territorial primary care integration can simultaneously enhance clinical outcomes and health system financial efficiency.