In Colombia, expectations about the direction of the health system remain latent after the collapse of the reform promoted by the National Government, which promised improvements for both users and workers in the sector. In the midst of this scenario of uncertainty, a new front of discontent is making its way from the universities and hospitals of the country despite be approved in the labor reform.
The medical students announced a national sit-in for this December 29with the aim of demanding that the Government guarantee the necessary resources for the payment of internal doctors starting in 2026. The mobilization seeks to ensure that what is approved on paper is translated into a concrete reality for those who today work long hours without receiving remuneration.
The initiative was presented by the representative to the Chamber for Bogotá, Jennifer Pedraza, and was approved within the labor reform. However, although the norm already exists, students warn that the regulations and, above all, the budget allocation are still missing for the payment to be effective.
Payment to medical interns: students will take to the streets
Currently, medical interns must work full-time shifts in hospitals and clinics, without receiving any payment during their last year of training. Given this situation, medical students will gather in 17 cities in the country, starting at noon, in health centers, government buildings and public squares.
Las Protests will be carried out without affecting attention to critical services. Those assigned to emergencies or other vital procedures will not participate in person, while those who cannot go out on the streets will join the day through social networks with the number #InternosConPagoYa.
These will be some of the concentration points:
- Bogotá: Ministry of Health
- Cartagena: Caribbean University Hospital
- Barranquilla: General Clinic of the North
- Cali: Valle University Hospital
- Medellin: San Vicente de Paul Foundation Hospital
- Bucaramanga: Los Comuneros Hospital
- Cúcuta: Erasmo Meoz Hospital
Added to them are cities such as Villavicencio, Ibagué, Manizales, Popayán, Santa Marta, Neiva, Pasto, Pereira, Sincelejo and Valledupar.
What does the law say about payment to medical interns?
According to Andrés Salcedo, doctor and promoter of the initiative, economic recognition is already law, but it has not yet become a real guarantee. “Payment to inmates is already law, but there is no regulation to make it a reality in 2026. We mobilize peacefully to demand that the MinHacienda authorize the MinSalud to guarantee the payment,” he assured.
With the labor reform, internal doctors, who are in their last year of university and serve in hospitals and clinics with long hours, rThey will receive financial support equivalent to a minimum monthly salary. In addition, they will be affiliated with the health and pension systems, since they currently only have ARL coverage.
Payment will be made by the State through Adres. According to estimates, The investment would exceed 146,000 million pesos to benefit nearly 8,600 inmatescoming from 67 medical schools throughout the country. Meanwhile, students insist that mobilization is key so that the norm does not remain, once again, on paper.