BTN News: Concerns have recently surfaced about possible irregularities in the management of Copservir, the cooperative that operates Drogas La Rebaja, one of Colombia’s largest pharmacy chains. During a political oversight debate in the House of Representatives’ Seventh Commission, Andrés Forero, a congressman from the Centro Democrático party, raised alarms about the appointment of Yobany Montilla Meza as the entity’s interventor. According to Forero, the changes made by the Superintendente de la EconomÃa Solidaria, MarÃa José Navarro Muñoz, to the criteria for this position appear tailored to fit Montilla’s profile, which has led to significant increases in both his salary and his influence within the organization. These actions have sparked concerns over potential politicking and the proper management of a vital healthcare entity, with critics questioning the motivations behind the modifications and the impact on the cooperative’s future.
Forero highlighted that in the circular Number 20 from 2021, which originally outlined the basic requirements for appointing an interventor for Drogas La Rebaja, several key qualifications were altered. These modifications, according to Forero, reduced the stringency of the criteria, seemingly paving the way for Montilla’s selection. Specifically, the circular initially required candidates to have completed at least 100 hours of accredited coursework in insolvency and intervention from a recognized university. However, Navarro’s administration amended this requirement, making it optional and substituting it with an additional two years of experience in the relevant field. Forero argued that these changes effectively “tailored a suit” for Montilla, who had not previously met the original qualifications. Following these adjustments, Montilla not only secured the interventor role but also saw his salary jump from 8 million pesos to 34 million pesos monthly.
Moreover, Forero expressed concerns about the hiring of an additional team under Montilla’s supervision, purportedly as part of an effort to “save the entity.” This new team, with monthly costs to the Colombian taxpayers amounting to 108 million pesos, includes professionals with backgrounds seemingly unrelated to the health sector, such as environmental engineers and systems engineers. Forero questioned the relevance of these hires, particularly given their high salaries, which are around 15 million pesos, and the apparent lack of experience in the healthcare industry.
Forero also criticized the fact that Montilla, who should ideally have served as a diagnostic agent, is now both judge and jury, deciding whether the intervention at Copservir should continue for another year. This, according to Forero, creates a conflict of interest and undermines the integrity of the process.
In response, Superintendente MarÃa José Navarro Muñoz defended the changes, arguing that the previous requirements for the interventor role were inconsistent with the financial system’s organic statute. Navarro emphasized that the new criteria were designed to align with the law, which demands five years of experience, relevant postgraduate qualifications, and experience in the solidarity economy sector. She clarified that the 100-hour liquidation course was not entirely eliminated but was made optional, acknowledging that the primary goal is to safeguard the savings and well-being of Copservir’s members and employees.
Despite the controversy surrounding Montilla’s appointment, Navarro pointed out that he had already uncovered several significant irregularities within the organization, something that previous interventors had failed to do over the past two decades. Navarro questioned why these issues had not been addressed earlier, given that the intervention at Copservir has been in place for over 20 years. She suggested that the findings under Montilla’s watch indicate a higher level of diligence compared to past administrations.
Navarro also revealed that the information provided to the new interventor’s team has been incomplete and sometimes fragmented, which has hindered their efforts. She noted difficulties in accessing critical applications that manage and record the entity’s information, which remain restricted. Financial losses at Copservir have been continuous, especially since August 2023, with no structured plan from the management team to address the situation. This financial decline, coupled with inventory shortages in about 75% of distribution centers, has raised serious concerns about the cooperative’s viability.
The superintendente further uncovered that rental payments for 42 points of sale were being made to beneficiaries other than the actual landlords. This raised questions about the legitimacy of these payments and whether the management of rental contracts is being conducted transparently. Additionally, 47 contracts were found to have annual cost increases exceeding 20%, and some contracts were signed with high-ranking members of the cooperative’s leadership, which suggests potential conflicts of interest.
In light of these findings, Navarro emphasized the importance of revising the collective bargaining agreement, particularly the incentives for sales staff, which currently include a variable salary component tied to sales targets. She proposed renegotiating these terms to eliminate the sales incentive for administrative personnel, replacing it with a fixed salary that reflects the basic pay structure. This measure, she argued, could save the cooperative approximately 3,412 million pesos between October 2024 and December 2025.
Additionally, Navarro suggested reviewing the cooperative’s rental policy to avoid excessive costs, aiming to streamline operations and improve financial outcomes. The overall goal is to restructure the organization in a way that ensures its sustainability and protects the interests of its members and employees.
As the debate continues, the focus remains on whether these changes will ultimately benefit Copservir or if they represent a shift towards political maneuvering within one of Colombia’s most important healthcare providers.
