The Colombian health system begins a new chapter with the launch of the joint negotiation of medicines and health technologies among the nine Health Insurance Entities (EPS) under state intervention. This measure, endorsed by the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce, aims to improve efficiency in the procurement of medicines, medical devices, and specialized nutritional products, directly benefiting more than 29 million affiliates—equivalent to 56% of the country’s population.
The process begins with the opening of the Pre-offer phase, available until August 25, which will serve as a starting point for the pharmaceutical industry to submit supply proposals. Through this mechanism, block negotiations are expected to reduce acquisition costs, increase the system’s response capacity, and ensure more timely delivery of treatments.
One of the innovations of this strategy is the use of the ITBID technological platform, which centralizes supplier registration, document management, and process traceability. This tool, in addition to streamlining procedures, provides guarantees of transparency, fairness, and efficiency—key elements to ensure the trust of the different stakeholders involved.
The committee responsible for coordinating this collective effort is made up of the intervened EPS and has the mission of executing the grouped purchasing strategy, aligned with the public policy of guaranteeing the sustainability of the health system. With this step, the way health technologies are procured in the country may be transformed, prioritizing financial sustainability without sacrificing quality or coverage.
This initiative, considered of great magnitude, not only seeks to stabilize the EPS currently in crisis but also to strengthen the structure of the health system and set a precedent in the efficient management of public resources.
Original source in spanish.
