Doctors affected by earthquake make demands to the government

On August 20, 2026, the Colombian Medical College requested the national government to adopt protection measures for doctors and other health workers affected by the August 10 earthquake. The request was addressed to the Presidency of the Republic, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and the Ministry of Labor due to the difficulties faced by healthcare personnel in the zones hit by the tremor.

Situation of health professionals in affected areas

According to the association, the total or partial closure of some Health Service Provider Institutions and State Social Enterprises prevented numerous workers from continuing to provide their services. This situation also caused an interruption in the income of these professionals, especially those hired through service provision contracts or outsourcing mechanisms.

Demands directed at the national government

Among the proposed measures is guaranteeing job stability for those with this type of contract and creating monthly subsidies or economic benefits as long as the emergency's impacts last. The association also requested the establishment of relief on contributions to the comprehensive social security system to prevent workers from losing coverage during the institutions' recovery period.

Scope of the emergency and included departments

The organization recalled that the declaration related to the emergency covered departments such as Antioquia, Caldas, Cauca, Chocó, Quindío, Cundinamarca, Risaralda, Huila, Valle del Cauca, Tolima, Putumayo, and Norte de Santander. However, the entity considers that the actions taken so far have not sufficiently addressed professionals without a direct link to the locations where they work.

Observations on the ministerial circular

The institution referred to Circular 096, issued on August 13, 2026, by the Ministry of Labor, which establishes social protection and safety guidelines. Despite this, the association pointed out that a significant portion of healthcare personnel is linked to private and public institutions through service provision contracts or outsourcing schemes.

Need for new specific decrees

The suspension of activities left these workers without the possibility of performing their duties normally and, consequently, without the financial earnings they depend on. For this reason, the organization requested the issuance of decrees or circulars with specific mechanisms to ensure that doctors, nurses, and other professionals maintain their income and social security during the progressive resumption of operations.

With information from El Colombiano.