Colombia – In the rhythm of progress, sometimes, we are called back to the past to remember the steps that carried us forward. This week, former President Álvaro Uribe spoke with passion and conviction, drawing attention to what he believes is a dangerous misstep in Colombia’s journey toward a just healthcare system. The reform, which was formally introduced on September 20, sits heavy on the hearts of those who, like Uribe, fear the loss of something dear: the Ley 100.
Uribe, a figure who once held the nation in the palm of his hand, speaks now with a voice steeped in memory, a voice that reminds the people of a time when health was given new meaning under his administration. “Ley 100,” he says, “opened doors.” It was not simply a law, but a key to opportunity—a path carved through the mountains of inequality that had long cast a shadow over the nation.
But now, with this new reform rising in the halls of government, that path feels as though it might be closing. The healthcare reform of 2024, crafted under the eye of Health Minister Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo, seeks to reshape the current model. Jaramillo calls it familiar, but for many—Uribe included—the shape it takes is unsettling. This is not a continuation of Ley 100’s vision, but something different, something Uribe calls a “statization” of health.
A Nostalgic Defense of Ley 100
Uribe speaks not just of policy, but of people—of the doctors, nurses, and health workers whose lives were changed by Ley 100. “It gave them opportunities,” he says. And these opportunities were not just fleeting moments of hope but structural changes that made a difference in the daily lives of Colombians.
He reminds the people of the hospitals that bloomed under his leadership—new equipment, modernized care, and, above all, accessibility. “Especially for the users,” Uribe emphasizes. It was always about the people, he insists—the ordinary men and women who once felt left behind but were suddenly given the chance to access health services that had previously been out of reach.
In his words, there is a deep affection for what Ley 100 symbolized: progress, hope, and the belief that Colombia could rise to meet the needs of its citizens. Uribe’s criticism of the new reform is not simply political; it’s personal. He fears the loss of these gains, a fear that the future may unravel the good woven into the fabric of Colombia’s healthcare system under his tenure.
A Future Uncertain: The Risks of Statization
Uribe’s heart beats heavily as he speaks of the new healthcare reform. The proposal, he warns, does not honor the spirit of progress but threatens to roll it back. “It confirms the statization of services,” he says, his tone grave. To Uribe, this reform would turn a system that had empowered people into one that binds them with red tape, with government control stretching across every aspect of care.
To move from one level of care to another, Uribe explains, would require the permission of the state—a system, he says, that would delay and complicate the process of seeking help. Basic Care Centers would become a bottleneck, with patients forced to wait for the green light to access more complex treatments. For a country that had taken strides toward empowering its citizens, this feels like a step backward, a retreat into bureaucracy.
Uribe’s vision for Colombia has always been about removing obstacles, opening paths. His fear is that this reform would place barriers where once there were none, walls where there should be open doors.
A Proposal Met with Skepticism
As the reform continues its journey through the legislative process, others share Uribe’s concerns. Senator Norma Hurtado from the Party of La U speaks for many when she says there is worry in the air. This reform, like the one presented in 2023, carries with it uncertainty, doubt. The lack of modification to the original draft only deepens these concerns.
The future of Colombia’s healthcare system now rests in the hands of the legislators, who must read, analyze, and decide. But for many, including Uribe, the stakes are clear. It’s not just about policy; it’s about the lives that depend on it—the doctors, the nurses, the patients. It’s about Colombia’s soul.
Looking Forward, Looking Back
As Colombia stands at this crossroads, the words of Álvaro Uribe echo through the corridors of power and across the fields where ordinary Colombians go about their lives. He does not speak merely as a former president, but as a man who deeply believes in the power of health, in the right of every citizen to receive care that is swift, efficient, and free from unnecessary barriers.
His plea is simple: do not forget where we have come from. The future is uncertain, but the past holds lessons. Ley 100 was not perfect, but it was a step forward, and to lose its gains would be, in Uribe’s eyes, a tragedy for the people of Colombia.
As the debate over healthcare reform continues, one thing is certain: the heart of the matter lies not just in policies and politics, but in the lives of the people. And in the end, that is what Uribe seeks to protect—the dignity, the health, and the future of his beloved Colombia.
