Cancer patients affiliated with Nueva EPS in Colombia are facing wait times exceeding 100 days to access vital medical treatments [1].
These delays represent a systemic failure in the delivery of life-saving care, placing thousands of high-risk patients in critical danger as they struggle to navigate structural barriers to health services.
Reports published between April and June 2024 highlight a deepening crisis within the health provider, which serves more than 12 million affiliates [4]. The lack of effective access has led to a surge in patient grievances, with complaints jumping from 100 to 6,000 in a single year [2].
In Manizales, the scale of the shortage is particularly evident, where 109,000 medications remain pending for delivery [3]. These shortages are compounded by administrative barriers that prevent patients from receiving timely care, even as the government maintains a 51% stake in the entity's shares [5].
While the Colombian government assumed a majority stake in Nueva EPS with the expectation of improving service quality [5], current data suggests a different trajectory. Some reports said the situation is a humanitarian crisis where patients remain in critical danger due to the absence of essential medicines [2].
Administrative efforts have failed to translate into actual bedside care. Patients continue to report a lack of effective access to the health system, forcing many to rely on legal actions to secure their right to treatment [3].
“Cancer patients affiliated with Nueva EPS in Colombia are facing wait times exceeding 100 days to access vital medical treatments.”
The crisis at Nueva EPS underscores a disconnect between government ownership and operational efficiency. While the state holds 51% of the shares to ensure public health stability, the spike in complaints and medication backlogs suggests that administrative control has not resolved the structural bottlenecks in the Colombian health system. For oncology patients, these delays are not merely bureaucratic—they are clinical risks that can lead to higher mortality rates.
