Jose Felix Pantiño

Colombia's healthcare 'crisis'

In past elections in Colombia, security was always a top concern of voters. But with the security situation in places like Bogota much improved in the past 8 years, polls have shown that social issues such a jobs, education and healthcare have become the primary anxiety people will consider when voting in this election for president on Sunday.

Healthcare is one issue that has been talked about a lot in Colombia lately. The system is dominated by private health insurance companies.

The public healthcare system for the people who cannot afford private insurance - about half of Colombia’s 44 million people - is in debt by some estimates to the tune of $3 billion dollars.

In short, there is simply no more money in government coffers to fund extensive healthcare for those who need it the most and can’t afford private insurance. Even the government has admitted in recent weeks the system is in crisis.