Patient association

What it is

Under Decree 1757 of 1994, a patient association is a group of members of Colombia’s General Social Security Health System who look after the quality of services and the defense of patients.

What it does

1. Advises its members on their free choice of the institution’s services.
2. Advises its members on identifying and accessing services.
3. Takes part in the boards of health plans and providers to propose measures that maintain and improve the quality of care, as the law allows.
4. Keeps communication channels open with members to learn about their concerns and bring them to the boards.
5. Makes sure board decisions are carried out as agreed.
6. Reports to the relevant bodies when the quality of service does not meet members’ needs.
7. Proposes opening days and hours according to the community’s needs.
8. Makes sure fees and co-payments match the community’s socioeconomic conditions.
9. Handles patient complaints about service shortcomings and makes sure they are corrected.
10. Proposes measures to improve the timeliness and the technical and human quality of services.
11. Acts as a watchdog over institutions in the sector.
12. Democratically elects its representatives to the boards, for terms of up to two years.
13. Democratically elects its representatives to hospital ethics and community participation committees, for terms of up to two years.
14. Takes part in appointing the representative to the regional health and social security council.

How to join

Servicios Especializados FCB S.A.S. invites its patients to form the institution’s patient association. To join, contact the patient services (SIAU) coordinator at [email protected] or +57 (607) 595 6075, ext. 139.

To be elected as a representative of the association, you must:

• Be a member of the health plan you are enrolled in.
• Have no legal disqualifications.
• Not be an employee of the health institution.
• Live in the municipality.
• Be present at the election.