← FairWait 🇨🇴

Healthcare in Colombia: cost & waiting times

Statutory health insurance

Universal contributory/subsidised insurance (SGSSS) delivered through EPS insurers and IPS providers. Coverage is broad on paper; administrative barriers and authorisations ('autorizaciones') are the practical friction.

Emergency number: 123

How residents get care

  1. Enrol with an EPS — Contributory (employed/self-employed) or subsidised (low income). You pick the EPS and can change after a minimum period.
  2. Primary care through your assigned IPS — The EPS assigns a network; the GP refers to specialists, with the EPS authorising the referral.
  3. Prepaid plans ('medicina prepagada') for speed — Bought on top of the EPS to shorten waits and widen choice.

Official waiting-time source

Regulations set maximum times (e.g. general medicine within 3 days, some specialties within days-to-weeks) but authorisation delays are a common complaint; a 'tutela' legal action is often used to force timely care.

Superintendencia Nacional de Salud indicators; no public per-procedure register ↗

MilestoneReference
General medicine appointment (norm)3 days (~0w)
Specialist appointment (norm, varies)15 days (~2w)

Typical private costs

Typical self-pay prices — for an exact figure use the official links above or ask a clinic for a written quote.

ItemTypical range
Private GP consultationCOP 15–COP 40
Private specialist consultationCOP 25–COP 60
Private MRICOP 60–COP 160

Prescriptions

Medicines on the health-benefit plan (PBS) are covered by the EPS; others may need a separate route (MIPRES) or are paid privately.

Visiting Colombia?

No reciprocal cover. Private clinics in Bogotá, Medellín and Cali are good and inexpensive by North-American standards.

Emergencies Call 123. Emergency services must provide initial stabilisation regardless of ability to pay.

Official links

Open the full interactive guide, compare tool & tracker →
PrivacyTermsAll countries