Strong Criticism of MinSalud After Controversy Over Hospital Crisis in Itagüí
With the phrase ”even the rich cry,” the government of Gustavo Petro entered a new controversy focused on and provoked this time by the Minister of Health, Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo, after responding in a “disrespectful and mocking” manner to the crisis at the San Rafael Hospital in Itagüí.
After being consulted about the situation, the head of the health portfolio in the country washed his hands of the matter when questioned about the financial crisis facing this medical center south of the Aburrá Valley, and decided to evade any responsibility.
Therefore, in light of the controversial statements by the 75-year-old minister, various political figures, sectors, and entities in the country have reacted against him with strong criticism and comments, after he indicated that everything is the fault of “political maneuvering.”
One of the many criticisms came from presidential pre-candidate Enrique Peñalosa, who, through a video published this Monday, January 19, on all his social networks, accused the minister of being “miserable for mocking those who are suffering from the health crisis.”
Jaramillo responded with “even the rich cry” after being interviewed on Caracol Radio, where he was questioned about the National Government’s role in the critical situation facing the hospital network in Antioquia, as it faces a debt of more than $8 billion due to EPS (Health Promoting entities).
According to Jaramillo, the hospital’s problems did not originate because the Government failed to transfer the corresponding resources, but rather due to the poor management of the administration.