Bogotá, Colombia – There is a quiet revolution unfolding, a wave of justice long overdue, for a group that has waited in the shadows for far too long. This year, Colombia has made history. The Superintendencia Nacional de Salud has taken bold, necessary action to ensure that the transgender community, a group often met with indifference or hostility, can now access the healthcare they so rightly deserve. In this struggle, the issuing of the 2024 Circular 2024150000000011-5 is more than just policy—it is a promise. It is the country’s pledge to embrace and heal, to right the wrongs of yesterday, and to honor the dignity of every human being.
The Struggle for Dignity and Care
For too long, those who identify as part of the LGBTIQ+ community in Colombia have borne not only the weight of judgment from society but also the pain of systemic neglect. Trans individuals seeking healthcare have faced hurdles—doors that would not open, services that would not come, and care that lacked understanding and respect. Now, with the stroke of a pen, Colombia’s healthcare system has been called to account, to become what it should always have been: inclusive and just.
Ángela Parra, a representative of the LGBTIQ+ community, spoke with a voice both proud and wounded, as she reflected on this moment of change. “This isn’t just a circular with empty promises,” she said. “It addresses the real issues, the very barriers to care that we face every day. From the quality of service to timely access, this is about more than accessibility—it’s about the human right to be treated with dignity.”
The Circular’s Call to Action: Real Change in Healthcare
This circular is a clarion call, not just for the healthcare sector, but for the nation at large. It’s a roadmap to healing, and it sets out twelve essential guidelines for healthcare institutions, alongside fifteen directives for territorial entities, thirteen mandates for insurance corporations, and fifteen obligations for public and private healthcare providers. Even pharmaceutical managers are included, with three key instructions to ensure equitable access to medications. These actions aim to eliminate the silent walls that have kept so many from receiving the care they need.
A Long-Overdue Justice
Standing tall amid the shifting landscape is Luis Carlos Leal Angarita, the Superintendent of Health. His voice carried the weight of a history that, until now, had largely ignored the trans community. “As a nation,” he said, “we have owed this community justice for too long. Today, we do more than make history—we begin to make amends.” There is a deep recognition, an admission that the system has failed, that it has hurt more than it has healed. “Our healthcare system has often abandoned those it was meant to serve,” he added, “and it’s time to correct that, starting with better training and a focus on truly understanding the whole person.”
But the circular isn’t just words on a page. It carries real consequences for those who fail to uphold its principles. If any of the instructed actions are disregarded, the entities in question will face administrative sanctions. The Superintendencia Nacional de Salud will be watching, ensuring that no one is left behind again.
A Future Where Healthcare Sees All of Us
Colombia is now on a path to healing, not just wounds of the body, but of the heart and spirit. The significance of this moment echoes beyond the hospitals and clinics, stretching into the soul of a country learning to love all of its people. As the LGBTIQ+ community moves forward with hope, we are reminded that this is not just policy—this is a statement that trans lives matter, that their health matters, and that their humanity will no longer be denied.
The road ahead may still have its struggles, but this circular is a beacon. It is the promise that no matter who you are, or how you identify, your right to healthcare, to dignity, and to life itself is not negotiable.
