Colombia
The Colombian healthcare system is two-tiered. The contributivo scheme is for citizens who can afford to pay for health insurance through their employer or a private plan. Their healthcare costs are then covered by that plan. The subsidiado scheme is for citizens who cannot afford to pay for health insurance. Their medical costs are subsidized or covered by taxpayers’ money. In 2009, the Colombian government indicated that 17.06 million Colombians accessed healthcare through a contributivo plan. The rest of the population, approximately 24.3 million, were registered in the subsidiado plan. Classification of citizens is based on a six-point system that assesses income. Members of both plans are given access to specific pharmaceutical drugs and healthcare treatments, which are provided by both private and public institutions.
Healthcare Spending
Colombia is a poor country; in addition, the government spends very little of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare costs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Colombia spent 6.8% of its national GDP on healthcare costs in 2012. That amounted to $723 USD per capita. Compared to other South American countries, such as Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, who spent above $1,000 USD on healthcare in the same year, that figure is low. Among all of the countries in the world, Colombia ranks 106th on healthcare spending.
Availability of Care
There is a severe deficit of physicians, nurses, and midwives in Colombia. Figures indicate that there are only 1.47 physicians per one thousand citizens, whereas the average for the entire Americas region is 2.08 physicians per one thousand citizens. The need for trained nurses and midwives is even greater. Statistics show that there are only 0.62 nurses and midwives per one thousand people. This is impossibly low, especially given the average for the Americas region of 4.58 nurses and midwives for every one thousand people.
Life Expectancy & Mortality
Colombia is a developing country that has a moderately low life expectancy. Currently, the average life expectancy is 75.25 years. When compared to other countries around the world, Colombia ranks 96th on life expectancy. Chile and Argentina, two close South American countries, have higher figures. However, Brazil’s life expectancy is lower than that of Colombia by over two years and Venezuela’s is also lower.
Other Issues
One of the biggest problems facing the Colombian healthcare system has to do with diseases that are preventable. Due to a lack of education and a lack of resources, many citizens contract diseases that might otherwise be avoided by proper hygiene habits, awareness of how diseases are spread, and/or vaccinations. Communicable diseases can put a huge strain on the healthcare system and hamper the effectiveness of the system. Focusing resources and money on prevention is a key area of development in Colombia. Other sources indicate that corruption is the biggest impediment to Colombia’s healthcare system. As indicated above, the classification of individuals based on their income and socioeconomic status determines how much or how little they must pay. Homeless and poor people are supposed to be given free access to healthcare, whereas higher income members of society must pay. Politicians in Colombia, however, have been accused of exploiting this system to offer free healthcare to those that have the means to pay, thereby overwhelming the system.