The services of cardiovascular surgery, neurology and urology were temporarily closed, since May 3, at the Santa Sofía Departmental University Hospital.
The institution reported that the related specialists would not be available and that this made it impossible to maintain the agenda. That the decision has nothing to do with a contractual reason, as some doctors from the entity allege.
The document through which the cessation of activities was announced surprised in Caldas and the Coffee Region, since the healthcare center is a national reference in these medical areas and this represents inconveniences in the care of users.
Background
Carlos Alberto Piedrahíta, hospital manager, told LA PATRIA that they were looking for alternatives in this regard: “The neurology and urology thing could possibly be arranged this week.”
The reopening of cardiovascular surgery, meanwhile, could take a little longer. Well, this is quite onerous for the institution and making it available requires a balance point that they do not have today.
“It has worked for 25 years, but it is quite expensive, especially when the EPS delay paying or do not deliver resources when required. It is unknown to no one that today the situation of the country’s public and private hospitals is critical,” the manager stressed.
Piedrahíta pointed out that it is not a definitive suspension, but that the closure – under the condition described – is given to avoid lawsuits. He highlighted that the institution would be exposed to this by offering a service, without having professionals to support it.
“I cannot operate with risks. For any contract of this hospital, I must have the budget availability. I have to be responsible with that and comply with the administrative procedures,” she said.
Piedrahíta denied that the dismissal had to do with contractual matters. He highlighted that the professionals of these three specialties are up to date with payments.
“What I do believe is that these three specialties are also going to have to look at the decree in which they are told that they cannot continue earning so much. There are specialties that are a monopoly, with very high salaries; when hospitals have to contain those costs,” he mentioned.
The manager said that, on average, cardiovascular surgery costs the hospital $600 to $700 million a month, including the cost of supplies and the costs of specialists.
“It takes me up to a year for any EPS to pay me what they owe, but they do want to receive that salary in a timely manner, which has been achieved,” the manager insisted.
For human talent
Lawyer José Norman Salazar, director of the National Center for Medical Law, regretted the news. He assured that this temporality of the closure will negatively impact the provision of services.
He has another vision of the hospital-specialists relationship: “For many months, even years, Santa Sofia has had great difficulty in hiring human talent, both doctors and other professionals specialized in the area.
He highlighted that there the contracting conditions are imposed, with the argument that anyone who does not want that type of connection is free to not continue in the entity. He mentioned that they are not compensated, in the correct way, for their training. He added that there is fear of talking about it.
Regarding the cardiovascular surgery service, Salazar believes that Now patients will be directed to Medellín, Bogotá or Cali, as was the case before. What he described as critical for patients in delicate vital situations.
Salazar urged hiring to be handled in a coordinated and non-impositional manner, valuing human talent as it should. He highlighted that the way in which they are linked discourages working with the entity.
“The hiring style is fatal, very despotic words are used and the specialists do not want to continue like this. They are highly trained professionals, who deserve adequate remuneration,” concluded Salazar, who is also a doctor.
as a mediator
Juan Pablo Osorio, representative of Manizales, said he was very attentive to the situation, since it could result in the services not being provided in the time required by system users.
“They must be guaranteed an alternative provider network, so that they do not lack the right to health. There must be a continuity. This network will be verified today (yesterday), in which the Ministry of Public Health and the Territorial Health Directorate of Caldas (DTSC) will intervene,” commented the representative.
Regarding whether the temporary closure of services corresponded to the law, Osorio answered that they are reviewing the issue in light of Resolution 3100 of 2019, issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.
“Establish these closing contingencies, we will verify if the conditions for this are met. We understand that the hospital, based on information provided by its manager, is going through a difficult financial situation.”
Osorio said that the deficit is close to $19 billion, which has made it difficult to hire personnel in the detailed specialties and in other hospital areas of the entity.
