A healthcare crisis in rural Colombia

Most people living in rural Colombia don't have access to specialised medical services and as a result many lose their lives, or live with a poor quality of life, due to treatable or preventable diseases. Many areas don't have sufficient hospital infrastructure or specialist doctors, and a shortage of medical equipment and supplies causes further distress.

If people from rural communities need to see a specialist doctor or require surgery, they're forced to travel to larger cities. The problem is, it can take several months to secure important health appointments plus, the cost of transport and accommodation in the cities makes it almost impossible for many to get the care they need.

Taking healthcare to them

Patrulla Aérea Civil Colombiana (PAC) are taking free healthcare to people that need it most. For those living in rural areas without access to required infrastructure, PAC take the hospital to them with the help of 50 health professionals, 10-15 planes and two tonnes of medical equipment.

With their mobile hospital they perform an average of 20 health brigades of different types (medical, surgical) every year. They improve the quality of life and well-being of people in vulnerable conditions, through specialised medical consultations, diagnostic examinations and surgeries.

In each brigade they serve an average of 800 patients and perform 1000 specialized medical consultations (optometry, dermatology, pediatrics, nutrition, ultrasound, odontology, gynecology) and at least 120 surgeries (general surgery, ophthalmology, gynecology, urology).

Their services, medicines and optical lenses are completely free of charge.

Specialty services on the road

PAC specific programs are designed to:

• prevent teenage pregnancy
• provide early diagnosis for malnutrition, prostate and cervix cancer, pregnancy issues, sexually transmitted diseases, and more
• focus on women's health (family planning, gynecology, maternal health)
• focus on children's nutrition
• focus on elderly patients (inc. cataract surgery)
• provide cancer screenings for cervical cancer, prostate cancer and skin cancer
• provide screenings for communicable diseases such as malaria, dengue, AIDS and syphilis

They also give priority to indigenous communities, many of whom have never had access to a specialist physician.