An elderly woman died in Cúcuta while demanding essential medications she had not received since September for her disabled son. The case highlights structural issues in elderly access to health services in Colombia. Lawyers stress the constitutional duty to protect this vulnerable group.
In a health entity in Cúcuta, an elderly woman went approximately seven months without receiving her medications and died while demanding essential ones for her disabled son, which had not been delivered since September. This incident has reignited debate on the real conditions under which elderly people access health treatments and services in Colombia, particularly affecting a vulnerable group with progressive health decline, physical limitations, and reduced economic capacity.
“The health system entities must consider the personal and social condition of elderly adults. These are people who, in many cases, depend exclusively on subsidized medications and whose physical stability can deteriorate severely from any interruption in their treatments,” explains Jimmy Jiménez, lawyer at Integrity Legal firm.
Colombia's Political Constitution, in Article 46, states that the State, society, and family must protect and assist elderly people, ensuring their integration into active and community life. This duty is especially relevant to the fundamental right to health. Unjustified delays in medication delivery or postponement of medical procedures can lead to worsening pathologies, significant decline in quality of life, and even fatal outcomes.
Additionally, Law 1850 of 2017 bolsters these protective measures. “The reinforced protection of elderly people is not an act of goodwill; it is a direct constitutional obligation. When a health entity delays the delivery of essential medications, it not only commits a service failure but may also violate fundamental rights such as health and dignified life,” states Jiménez.
In cases of rights violations, complaints can be filed with the Superintendencia Nacional de Salud or through swift judicial tutela actions. Colombia also undertakes international commitments for effective protection of elderly rights, demanding concrete and timely actions from the health system.