Trends of Prescriptions for Medical Technologies Not Covered by the Colombian Health Benefits Package Between 2020 and 2024: A Descriptive Study
Author(s)
Juan Guillermo Barrientos, Sr., MSc1, Laura Herrera Almanza2, Manuela Pajón-Flórez3, Briam Sneider Jimenez4.
1Medico, Clinica Universitaria Bolivariana, MEDELLÍN, ANTIOQUIA, Colombia, 2Envigado, Colombia, 3Clinica Universitaria Bolivariana, Medellin, Colombia, 4Clinica Universitaria Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia.
1Medico, Clinica Universitaria Bolivariana, MEDELLÍN, ANTIOQUIA, Colombia, 2Envigado, Colombia, 3Clinica Universitaria Bolivariana, Medellin, Colombia, 4Clinica Universitaria Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia.
OBJECTIVES: OBJECTIVES: To describe the Trends of prescriptions for health technologies not covered by the Colombian Health System between 2020 and 2024
METHODS: METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted using data from the SISPRO (Colombia's Integrated Social Protection Information System). A descriptive analysis was performed, utilizing absolute and relative frequencies for the distribution of prescriptions.
RESULTS: RESULTS: A significant decrease in prescriptions was observed, from 8,792,657 in 2020 to 2,280,273 in 2024. Between 2020 and 2022, the majority of prescriptions corresponded to medications. In 2023, nutritional products predominated, and in 2024, complementary services. Analysis by ICD-10 diagnostic chapters indicated that the most common diagnoses varied by year: in 2020, chapter C22 accounted for 19.58% of prescriptions (n = 1,704,999); in 2021, chapter C09 with 13.62% (n = 969,295); and from 2022 to 2024, chapter C18 consistently represented approximately 30% of prescriptions. At the departmental, the highest frequencies were recorded in Cundinamarca (6,432,747), Antioquia (3,897,446), and Valle del Cauca (2,803,013). When adjusting for population size, Risaralda and Valle del Cauca had the highest prescription rates, with approximately 9 prescriptions per 100 inhabitants. Outpatient care settings accounted for 85.11% (n = 19,862,077) of all prescriptions. Regarding rare diseases, prescriptions for multiple sclerosis increased from 2,837 in 2020 to 4,698 in 2024. In contrast, prescriptions for cystic fibrosis declined from 3,510 in 2020 to 1,381 in 2024.
CONCLUSIONS: CONCLUSION: The analysis of prescriptions recorded between 2020 and 2024 reveals a decrease in the total volume of prescriptions. Variations were observed in the types of technologies prescribed over the years, with an increase in the prescription of complementary services in 2024.
METHODS: METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted using data from the SISPRO (Colombia's Integrated Social Protection Information System). A descriptive analysis was performed, utilizing absolute and relative frequencies for the distribution of prescriptions.
RESULTS: RESULTS: A significant decrease in prescriptions was observed, from 8,792,657 in 2020 to 2,280,273 in 2024. Between 2020 and 2022, the majority of prescriptions corresponded to medications. In 2023, nutritional products predominated, and in 2024, complementary services. Analysis by ICD-10 diagnostic chapters indicated that the most common diagnoses varied by year: in 2020, chapter C22 accounted for 19.58% of prescriptions (n = 1,704,999); in 2021, chapter C09 with 13.62% (n = 969,295); and from 2022 to 2024, chapter C18 consistently represented approximately 30% of prescriptions. At the departmental, the highest frequencies were recorded in Cundinamarca (6,432,747), Antioquia (3,897,446), and Valle del Cauca (2,803,013). When adjusting for population size, Risaralda and Valle del Cauca had the highest prescription rates, with approximately 9 prescriptions per 100 inhabitants. Outpatient care settings accounted for 85.11% (n = 19,862,077) of all prescriptions. Regarding rare diseases, prescriptions for multiple sclerosis increased from 2,837 in 2020 to 4,698 in 2024. In contrast, prescriptions for cystic fibrosis declined from 3,510 in 2020 to 1,381 in 2024.
CONCLUSIONS: CONCLUSION: The analysis of prescriptions recorded between 2020 and 2024 reveals a decrease in the total volume of prescriptions. Variations were observed in the types of technologies prescribed over the years, with an increase in the prescription of complementary services in 2024.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
RWD186
Topic
Medical Technologies, Organizational Practices, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Health & Insurance Records Systems
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Rare & Orphan Diseases