Antioquia, Colombia Boosting Coronavirus Detection, Treatment, Hospital Capacity, Financing

Colombia’s National Institute of Health (“INS” in Spanish initials) announced March 29 that it’s about to receive high-tech Coronavirus laboratory-analysis equipment donated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“The donated equipment, reagents and biosafety elements, which will arrive in the country in the coming days, will allow the National Institute of Health (INS) to continue applying the ‘RT-PCR’ technique, which manages to determine with 99% effectiveness who has acquired — or not acquired — the virus,” according to INS.

“In addition, this will improve the installed capacity of the INS to carry out new analyses of the disease in the national territory with the application of nearly 2,000 tests.

“Further, this will allow continuing the training process for scientists from higher education institutions, which have been preparing to implement the detection [analysis] techniques.”

An older diagnostic machine at INS suffered damage several days ago, but the Roche pharmaceutical company stepped-in to repair it on March 27, according to INS.

Meanwhile, as of March 28, Colombia had confirmed 608 cases of Coronavirus nationally, with Antioquia accounting for 67 cases. Six people have died nationally, but none so far in Antioquia.

EPM Donates Ventilators, ICU Capacity

On a related front, Medellin-based utilities giant EPM announced March 28 that it donated COP$3 billion (US$748,000 ) to boost Intensive Care Unit (ICU) capacity at University IPS Hospital (Leon XIII Clinic) in Medellin – specifically for coronavirus (COVID-19) victims.

“The monies will be used to buy 42 new beds to attend to potential patients in complex conditions, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). In addition, 37 ventilators will also be purchased, essential to treat patients when vital signs deteriorate and their lives are put at risk,” according to EPM.

Besides the ventilator purchases, the donation includes another 24 vital-signs monitors, three defibrillators, two 12-channel electrocardiographs and a central monitoring unit, according to EPM.

IPS Buys Another 1,510 Ventilators

Meanwhile, the Colombian Health Ministry announced that it just signed a contract for 1,510 ventilators for the expected surge of Coronavirus victims nationally. However, the Ministry added that this initial purchase likely won’t be sufficient, with at least 7,500 ventilators expected to be required nationally.

Medellin Refurbishes ‘Saludcoop’ Clinic

Meanwhile, on March 28, the Medellin Mayor’s Office announced that it’s refurbishing and reopening portions of the former “Saludcoop” clinic on Avenida 80, including installation of 156 ICUs “to serve all Covid-19 patients who require it.”  Employer-benefits organization Comfama, paint manufacturing giant Pintuco and IPS Universitaria Hospital all contributed to the refurbishment.

“To date there are already 67 [Covid-19] cases reported in Antioquia, and 43 of these people reside in Medellín,” according to the Mayor’s Office.

Five new cases in Medellin were reported last week — all of which involved persons returning from foreign travel — and three other persons here have had full recoveries so far, according to the Office.

“The population between 20 and 29 [years of age] continues to be the most affected, for which reason young people are called to comply with the obligatory social distancing,” according to the Mayor.

“Regarding the successful recovery of three people, Rita Almanza, an epidemiologist at the Ministry of Health, stated that these are cases that ‘at the beginning of the epidemic were diagnosed, and then after quarantine, they had a second negative test result.’”

Health Ministry Sends More Money to Antioquia

On another front, Colombia’s Health Ministry announced March 28 that it just sent COP$84 billion (US$21 million) to Antioquia to cover past-due debts at hospitals, clinics and government-subsidized “EPS” (empresas promotoras de salud) health-insurance networks.

“This sum will allow the department to settle the overdue debt for services and procedures not financed from the capitation payment unit (UPC) in the subsidized [EPS] regime and, according to the provisions of Resolution 916 of 2020, Antioquia will proceed to make the payment to the corresponding beneficiaries and creditors” including hospitals, clinics and suppliers, according to the Ministry.

The extra monies also would help hospitals and clinics deal with an expected surge of Coranvirus victims — among which will be patients in the government-subsidized sector.