Gustavo Bolívar under fire after effectively transporting minor to hospital: ‘They don’t need helicopters’
Gustavo Bolívar, director of the Department of Social Prosperity (DPS), is in the eye of the hurricane after he shared a message on his X account that highlighted the quick response of the government cabinet to the medical emergency of a child with health problems in La. Guajira.
In his publication, the senior official showed the exchange of WhatsApp messages in a group created among cabinet members where the transfer of the minor to the hospital was coordinated, highlighting the efficiency of the government in critical situations.
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The director of the Colombian Institute for Family Care (Icbf), Astrid Eliana Cáceres Cárdenas, in these reports, asked for urgent help to transport a child with health problems from La Guajira to a hospital. Within hours, in cooperation with the Department of Defense, the minor was transported to the emergency room for medical treatment.
“I’m going to break the confidentiality of a cabinet chat to show how much this government cares about a child’s life.” 8:49 p.m., yesterday Saturday, the ICBF director triggers an alert. 20:51 the advisor for the regions is speaking. At 2:50 a.m. today, the child is already in the hospital. “It’s a change!” the official stated, emphasizing the current government’s commitment to protecting children.
However, the publication provoked an immediate reaction from the social movement Patients of Colombia, which represents 198 patient organizations across the country. With a strong message, the movement questioned the effectiveness of the government’s actions in the medical care of minors.
Through their account on the same platform, they expressed that “the story of thousands of children who do not need helicopters, require: medicine, medical appointments and continued treatment”. The statement reflected the movement’s perceived concerns about the management of the country’s health services, which have been criticized for under-resourced and red tape preventing timely care.
“Mr Bolívar, one child was saved (…) We sent PQRS @Supersalud, nothing is happening, what can be done?” is read into the movement’s message and reveals a widespread frustration at the lack of response to pleas for attention.
Criticism from Colombia’s patients seems to center on the fact that the helicopter transfer, while saving a life in a particular situation, does not address the deep and persistent problems affecting Colombia’s health system. These problems include lack of timely access to medication, delays in medical appointments, and difficulty for many patients to continue with basic treatment, which is not addressed by immediate relocation of the minor.
Similarly, the Patients of Colombia movement stated that they had submitted several petitions, complaints, complaints and proposals (PQRS) before the health supervision without receiving an adequate response, showing the frustration of citizens who perceive slowness or inefficiency in the institutions responsible for supervision and regulation. sanitary system.
On the other hand, the Icbf issued a statement on the same platform in response to Gustavo Bolívar’s message, reaffirming its commitment to the protection of children and relating its activities to the general goal of the government. However, he did not offer a specific answer to the demands raised by the movement.
“As part of #GobiernoDelChange, our work is permanent to protect the lives of girls and boys, as this is how we ensure that #GenerationForPeace grows in our country”reads his message. This declaration seeks to project the vision of the current government to pursue sustainable peace through the guarantee of fundamental rights, especially for the most vulnerable.
For many critics, it is essential for the government to guarantee the right to health by strengthening regional hospitals, regularly supplying medicines and guaranteeing the availability of medical appointments and treatment for the entire population.