Efficient Coverage of Subsidized Health: A Regional Perspective in Colombia

Abstract

The development of social programs is a constant task the government has had towardsstrengthening its role in reducing the lack of opportunities that most vulnerable peopleface. In Colombia, one of the most important programs hosting this vision is subsidizedhealth, covering about 48% of the population regime. Consequently, the aim of thiswork is to evaluate the coverage efficiency of this scheme between 2008 and 2012 with aregional scope. It also seeks to estimate the monetary cost associated to inefficiency inidentifying and making reflections on actions that can be taken to alleviate this problem.Data related to individuals entry in their health system is then cross-checked with healthbudgets. It is evident that about 17% of people in the subsidized health system have beenincorrectly identified as beneficiaries that cost about 350 billion pesos or 22% of thehealth budget.