Colombia — Healthcare: Public Healthcare

Why this matters

Relocating individuals should understand the Colombian public healthcare system to plan their medical care and budget accordingly.

Key facts

• Current health expenditure: 8.1 % of GDP (2024)
• Government share of current health expenditure: 70 % (2024)
• Out-of-pocket share of current health expenditure: 15 % (2024)
• Physicians: 2.5 per 1,000 people (2023)
• Hospital beds: 1.7 per 1,000 people (2020)
• Life expectancy at birth: 77.9 years (2024)

Steps

1. Eligibility and Registration — To be eligible for Colombia's public healthcare system, individuals must be citizens or have a valid residence permit. Registration typically involves providing documentation such as a cédula de ciudadanía or a residence permit, as well as proof of income or employment.
2. Accessing Healthcare Services — To access healthcare services, individuals can visit a nearby healthcare center or hospital and present their cédula de ciudadanía or residence permit. Some services may require a referral from a primary care physician.

Costs

• Registration fee: Free for citizens and some foreign residents, varies by type of permit for others
• Out-of-pocket expenses: Varies depending on the service and provider

Timelines

• Registration processing time: Varies by municipality and type of permit
• Waiting times for non-emergency services: Not specified

Required documents

• Cédula de ciudadanía (Colombian ID)
• Residence permit (for foreign residents)
• Proof of income or employment

Common mistakes

• Assuming that all foreign residents are eligible for public healthcare without verifying their residence permit.

What these figures do not cover

These are national statistics. Who is eligible for the public system, how a foreign resident enrols, what it costs and waiting times are not covered here.